ANIMALS. 169 



Indeed, the infinite number of creatures that putrid substances seem 

 to give birth to, and the variety of little insects seen floating in liquors, 

 by the microscope, appear to favour this opinion. But however this 

 may be, the former method of classing animals can now by no means 

 be admitted, as we find many animals that are produced neither from 

 the womb, nor from the shell, but merely from cuttings ; so that to 

 multiply life in some creatures, it is sufficient only to multiply the dis- 

 section. This being the simplest method of generation, and that in 

 which life seems to require the smallest preparation for its existence, 

 I will begin with it, and so proceed to the two other kinds, from the 

 meanest to the most elaborate. 



The earth-worm, the millipedes, the sea-worm, and many marine 

 insects, may be multiplied by being cut in pieces ; but the polypus is 

 noted for its amazing fertility ; and hence it will be proper to take 

 the description. The structure of the polypus may be compared to 

 the finger of a glove, open at one end, and closed at the other. The 

 closed end represents the tail of the polypus, with which it serves to 

 fix itself to any substance it happens to be upon ; the open end may 

 be compared to the mouth ; and, if we conceive six or eight small 

 strings issuing from this end, we shall have a proper idea of its arms, 

 which it can erect, lengthen, and contract at pleasure, like the horns 

 of a snail. This creature is very voracious, and makes use of its 

 arms as a fisherman does of his net, to catch and entangle such little 

 animals as happen to come within its reach. It lengthens these arms 

 several inches, keeps them separate from each other, and thus occu- 

 pies a large space in the water in which it resides. These arms, when 

 extended, are as fine as threads of silk, and have a most exquisite de- 

 gree of feeling. If a small worm happens to get within the sphere 

 of their activity, it is quickly entangled by one of these arms, and, 

 soon after, the other arms come to its aid : these altogether shorten- 

 ing, the worm is drawn into the animal's mouth, and quickly devoured, 

 colouring the body as it is swallowed. Thus much is necessary to be 

 observed of this animal's method of living, to show that it is not of 

 the vegetable tribe, but a real animal, performing the functions which 

 other animals are found to perform, and endued with powers that 

 many of them are destitute of. But what is most extraordinary re- 

 mains yet to be told ; for, if examined with a microscope, there are 

 seen several little specks, like buds, that seem to pullulate from dif- 

 ferent parts of its body ; and these soon after appear to be young po 

 lypi, and like the large polypus, begin to cast their little arms about foi 

 prey, in the same manner. Whatever they happen to ensnare is de 

 voured, and gives a colour not only to their own bodies, but to thai 

 of the parent ; so that the same food is digested, and serves for the 

 iiourishment of both. The food of the little one passes into the large 

 polypus, and colours its body ; and this, in its turn, digests and swal- 

 lows its food to pass into theirs. In this manner every polypus has a 

 new colony sprouting from its body ; and these new ones, even while 

 attached to the parent animal, become parents themselves, having a 

 smaller colony also budding from them ; all, at the same time, busily 

 employed in seeking for their prey, and the food of any one of them 

 serving for the nourishment, and circulating through the bodies of al! 



