296 
The Natural Hiffory of the Book 1X. 
be allowed the Expreffion), and given thefe Animals that fine tranfparent 
Colour, to be a Means to provide for them their daily Food: For as 
bright Rays of Light (or fomething fimilar in its Effect) are very invite- 
ing to feveral Animals, efpecially thofe of the aquatic Kind, the beauti~ 
ful Colour of this circular Border may ferve as a Decoy for very young 
Fifh, or other Animalcules, to divert themfelves (as Flies about the 
Flame of a Candle) in fwimming about the Verge of this feemingly 
harmlefs Flower, until they come within the Circle; then thefe bright 
Leaves in Appearance prove, in Reality, fo many Arms or Feelers, that 
with a quick Motion clofe together, and furround the Prey ;_ which, 
being thus fecured, is conveyed to the Mouth, as above-mentioned. 
There are likewife on the uppermoft Part of the Rock, in the above- 
defcribed Bafin, innumerable Clufters of (what are here called) Water- 
Bottles, very much refembling fcattered Clufters of unripe Grapes 5 the 
Outfide confifting of a bluifh fkinny Tegument, like that of a Grape ; 
the Infide full of Water fomewhat turbid, 
Among thefe alfo are a great Number of Animal Flowers of the fame 
Species with the yellow large ones. Thefe now to be defcribed are like- 
wife fixt to the Rock, not in Holes, as the above-mentioned, but ftick- 
ing to the Surface among thefe Water-Bottles, and generally not above 
nine Inches under Water. : 
The Leaves, or rather Feelers, of thefe are of a greyifh-purple Colour 
variegated with black Spots, Their Motion likewife to avoid the Touch 
is not fo quick. 
Having plucked one of thefe from the Rock, I perceived the Body, 
which was about an Inch long, to have, whilft between my Finger and 
_ Thumb, a fenfible vermicular Motion: The Feelers likewife, which de- 
corated one End of it, when expofed to the Air, thrunk up, and remained 
as lifelefs: But as foon as the Whole was dipped in their proper Element 
“the Water, they would immediately, as it were, affume a new Life, and 
appear again in their full Vigour. 
Soon after the Difcovery of thefe furprfing Animals, a great Number 
of People came to view them: But as this was attended with fome {mall 
Inconveniency to a Perfon, thro’ whofe Land they were obliged to pafs 5 
he therefore, to get rid of the Company, refolved to deftroy the Object 
of their Curiofity : In order to do fo effectually, he took a Piece of iron 
prepared for that Purpofe ; and then carefully bored and drilled every 
Part of the Holes where thefe feeming Flowers were bred; but, to his 
great Surprize, they in a few Weeks appeared again iffuing from the fame 
Holes, 
Let us here, for awhile, ftop, and fee whether our much boafted Rea- 
fon can find out how even a latent Principle of Life can be preferved, 
after the whole organic Body is torn in Pieces. 
When we fee this Animal, in a fhort time after, refufcitate, and appear 
" in its former Proportion, Beauty, and Life, can we, after fuch an ocu- 
lar 
