Book IX. and of BARBADOS, 
THE 
ANIMAL FLOWER, 
S in Man, the moft perfe& Part of the fublunary Creation, there 
are apparently feen feveral different Degrees of Perfe@ion of Body 
and Mind ; and in Animals the Sagacity of fome is evidently fuperior to 
that of others ; fo likewife in this feemingly confufed Spécies of animal 
Life, and vegetable Appearance, the Chain gradually defcends with a 
furprifing Mixture and Connexion. ire 
Whoever hath Leifure and Abilities to purfue a general Inquiry of this 
Nature, will foon find, that. this progreffive Series riins through the 
whole Creation -=-- From the moft exalted Genius to the almoft fenfe- 
lefs Idiot ---- From the moft fagacious fenfible Creature to the almoft 
infenfible Muffel ---- From the towering Cedar to the Hyflop fpringing 
from the Wall, or the humble Mof. 
Such is that univerfal Harthony and Connexion, that runs through 
the numberlefs Ranks and Orders of Beings, till we come at laft to in- 
animate Matter. 
This furprifing Creatuie, that I am to treat of, hath, for a long 
time been the Obje@ of my own filent Adniiration 3 arid it would even 
now be thought chimerical to mention, much more defcribe, the Qua- 
lities of fo ftrange a Phenomenon, if the Polypus of late Years had not 
afforded a furprifing Inftance of Almighty Power. 
The Cave that contains this Animal, is near the Bottom of an high 
rocky Cliff facing the Sea, in the North Part of the Tfland, in the Parith 
of Sz. Lucy : The Defcent to it is very fteep and dangerous, being in fome 
I Places 
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