dgi PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNN0 1743. 



Concerning some Worms whose Parts live after they have been cut asunder. By 

 the Rev. Thomas Lord. N° 470, p. 522. 



After having, without success, made several repeated searches for tlie polypus, 

 in several fish-ponds, and a small stream, Mr. L. collected the different insects 

 of various sorts he had there met with, and which were of more than 30 kinds, 

 putting them all together ; but some of them voraciously seized on others, and 

 devoured them, so that in a day's time he had hardly any left, but a few of one 

 sort, which rolled themselves up like millepedes, or hog-lice, but were, on the 

 whole, more of the leech kind, and could extend themselves about an inch in 

 length. These he cut asunder, but the pieces died in about 30 hours after the 

 operation. He then recollected, that in the account published by Dr. Morti- 

 mer, Philos, Trans. N° 467, mention is made of a French gentleman, who had 

 discovered water-worms, that would live after cutting: he searched for all he 

 could find fastened either on rotten wood, leaves, straws, or stones, taken out 

 from the bottom of the water, and cut of every sort asunder ; but none lived 

 above 48 hours, except one sort, in one glass were 4 pieces that seemed to be 

 complete worms, and the same as the 2 in the other phial : these 4 pieces, 12 

 days before, were 2 worms : he cut them asunder with a penknife, and found 

 that each part, from the first, continued vigorous and strong ; and in 3 days 

 the ends where the wounds were given, were grown sharper, and they moved 

 along like the entire worms. 



The other two entire worms were each cut presently after into 2 pieces, which 

 soon after completed themselves, grew longer, and were several weeks after in 

 a vigorous and thriving condition. 



The Natural History of the Rhinoceros. By Dr. Parsons.* N° 470, p. 523. 



Albert Durer's figure of this creature has led several natural historians, who 

 have written since his time, into errors ; for such have always copied him ; and 

 indeed many have exceeded him in adorning their figures with scales, scallops, 



* Dr. Js. Parsons was author of a Mechanical and Critical Inquiry into the nature of Hermaphro- 

 dites, 1741 J of a Description of the Urinary Bladder, with figures, 1742 ; and of various papers, 

 besides the Croonian Lectures, inserted in the Philos. Trans., which papers chiefly relate to natural 

 history. 



He was descended from a good family, and was born at Barnstaple in Devonshire in 1705. After 

 receiving his medical education at Paris, he took his degree of M.D. at Rheims in 1736, and came 

 to settle in London the same year. Here he was befriended by Dr. Jas. Douglas, and was elected 

 F.R.S. in 174-0, to which Society he was appointed assistant secretary for foreign correspondence in 

 1750. He died in 1770. Dr. Parsons was a man of an inquisitive and philosophical turn of mindj 

 and although anatomy, physiology, and natural history, were his favourite pursuits, he nevertheless 

 bestowed considerable attention on the study of antiquities. 



