as the animal was at firft. In fhort, Polypes may be 

 cut in all directions and in every manner that can be 

 conceived, without injuring them; and will amply re- 

 pay the trouble attending the experiments by the afto- 

 nilhing views which they will exhibit during their dif- 

 ferent degrees of growth. 



As the green Polype is one of the moft common a- 

 nimals of the kind in this country, we have feleded it 

 as the beft and moft familiar example of the genus : 

 Its moft general length is from a quarter to half an 

 inch, when extended, cxcluiive of the arms ; but 

 fometimes it grows to a much greater extent. The 

 iirft difcovery of this animal was towards the end of 

 the laft century by Leewenhoek ; but he was not ac- 

 quainted with its extraordinary properties of reproduc- 

 tion. It feems to have been negledled after Leewen- 

 hoek's obfervation, 'till the year 1740, when Mr. 

 Trembley of Geneva again difcovered it; and by in- 

 numerable experiments was convinced of its reproduc- 

 tive nature. His experiments were foon made public ; 

 were repeated by all the Naturalifts of Europe; feve- 

 ral other fpecies were difcovered, as well as many o- 

 ther animals which polfefs the fame power of repro- 

 duction, and a new Era commenced in the annals of 

 Natural Hiftory. 



Fig* 1. A Polype magnified. 



Fig. 2, 3, &c. Polypes, fome in their natural fize, and others 



{lightly magnified. 

 Fig. 7. A Polype feizing a worm. 



