22 THE MICEOSCOPE. 



careful posts, and as most precious gifts ; and 

 when even ambassadors interested themselves 

 in sending early intelligence of the engrossing 

 theme to their respective courts." l 



The discoveries of Trembley may still be 

 regarded as a most important epoch in the 

 history of Microscopic inquiries. Up to that 

 time the Hydra had been classed with plants, 

 but it was then found to be a true animal. It 

 presented, moreover, quite a new type of ani- 

 mal life. For it was immediately ascertained 

 that it could propagate itself by buds like a 

 plant; that it could produce afresh any part 

 that might be cut away ; . that if cut across the 

 upper part, it would produce a new body and 

 tail, and the lower part as rapidly produce arms 

 and head ; that if the head was divided, each 

 portion would provide for itself the wanting 

 part ; that if minced into thirty or forty pieces, 

 each piece would grow into a new and perfect 

 polype ; and that if two individuals were grafted 

 together head to head, or tail to tail, or the head 

 of one to the tail of another, still the animal 

 economy would be complete as ever : Ay, more 



1 Johnston, Brit. ZoopTi. p. 126. 



