THf: HYDBOZOA. 177 



having the same characters as the creature of which 

 it had hitely formed a part ! 



Evidently science had become enriched by the 

 discovery of a new fact. Her classification had 

 proved defective, inasmuch as an attribute con- 

 sidered as peculiar to plants had been proved by 

 this experiment to belong to creatures of which 

 the animal nature was incontestable. HeuLe, not- 

 withstanding the difficulty of communication among 

 the learned in those days compared with the present 

 time, this new experience was speedily rtimoured 

 throughout Europe. Every naturalist repeated the 

 experiment for himself: at first, upon polypi which 

 Trembley sent in his letters, after having had them 

 properly dried ; afterwards upon specimens which 

 they found for themselves in stagnant waters. 

 Reaumur was one of the first. "I declare," said he, 

 *' when I saw for the first time two polyps gradually 

 form themselves from one that I had cut into two 

 pieces, I could hardly believe my eyes ; and the truth 

 is, I am not yet accustomed to the belief, although 

 I have repeated the experiment a hundred times 

 over." Soon afterwards, Reaumur began to observe 

 the same phenomenon in various species of worms, 

 and that which had seemed incredible was soon 

 recognised as being but another of the common phe- 

 nomena of nature. 



N 



