50 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO it. 



So the lone Taenia, as he grows, prolongs 



His flatten'd form with young adherent throngs; 



Unknown to sex the pregnant oyster swells, 



And coral-insects build their radiate shells; QO 



dwell in our ditches and rivers under aquatic plants; these animals have 

 been shown by ingenious observers to revive after having been dried, 

 to be restored when mutilated, to be multiplied by dividing them, 

 and propagated from portions of them, parts of different ones to 

 unite, to be turned inside outwards and yet live, and to be propa- 

 gated by seeds, to produce bulbs, and vegetate by branches. Syst. 

 Nat. 



The lone Tcenia. 1. 87. The tape-worm dwells in the intestines of 

 animals, and grows old at one extremity, producing an infinite 

 series of young ones at the other; the separate joints bave been 

 called Gourd-worms, each of which possesses a mouth of its own, and 

 organs of digestion. Syst. Nat. 



The pregnant oyster. 89. Ostrea eclulis dwells in the European 

 oceans, frequent at the tables of the luxurious, a living repast! New- 

 born oysters swim swiftly by an undulating movement of fins thrust 

 out a little way from their shells. Syst. Nat. But they do not after- 

 wards change their place during their whole lives, and are capable of 

 no other movement, but that of opening the shell a little way : whence 

 Professor Beckman observes, that their offspring is probably produced 

 without maternal organs; and that those, who speak of male and 

 female oysters, must be mistaken: Phil. Magaz. March 1800. It is 

 also observed by H. I. le Beck, that on nice inspection of the Pearl 

 oysters in the gulf of Manar, he could observe no distinction of 

 sexes. Nicholson's Journal. April 1800. 



And coral insects. ]. 0. The coral habitation of the Madrepora of 

 Linneus consists of one or more star-like cells; a congeries of which 

 form rocks beneath the sea; the animal which constructs it is termed 

 Medusa; and as it adheres to its calcareous cavity, and thence cannot 



