THE ZOOPHYTES. 59$ 



of swallowing a worm of thrice its own size: this 

 circumstance, though it may appear incredible, is 

 easily understood when we consider that the body 

 of the Polype is extremely extensile, and is dilated 

 on such occasions to a surprising degree. 



The species are multiplied tor the most part by 

 vegetation, one or two, or even more young ones 

 emerging gradually from the sides of the parent 

 animal ; and these young are frequently again pro- 

 lific before they drop off: so that it is no uncommon 

 thing to see two or three generations at once on the 

 same Polype. 



But the most astonishing particular respecting this 

 animal is that if the Polype be cut in pieces it is not 

 destroyed, but is multiplied by dissection : it is 

 literally 



Rich from its loss, and fruitful from its wound. 



It may be cut in every direction that fancy may 

 suggest, and even into very minute divisions, and 

 not only the parent stock will remain uninjured 

 but every section will become a perfect animal. 

 Even when turned inside-out it suffers no material 

 injury; for, in this state, it will soon begin to take 

 food, and to perform all its other natural functions. 



Leuwenhoek was the first who discovered this 

 animal, toward the end of the seventeenth century; 

 but M. Trembley, of Geneva, made, in the year 

 1740, the first experiments that proved decisively 

 its properties. In the course of his experiments, he 

 found that different portions of one Polype could be 

 engrafted on another. Two transverse sections 

 Qq 2 



