Microscopical Essays. $95 



We find Mr. Trembley writing in January, 1741, to Mr. 

 Bonnet, that he did not know whether he fhould *call the object 

 which then engaged his attention a plant or an animal. " I have 

 ftudied it, fays he, . ever ft nee June Iaft, and have found in it 

 finking characterises of both plant and animal. It is a little 

 aquatic being. At firft fight every one imagines it to be a plant ; 

 but if it be a plant, it is fenfitive and ambulant ; if it be an animal, 

 it may be propagated by flips, or cuttings, like many plants." It 

 was not till the month of March, in the fame year, that he could 

 fatisfy himfelf as to their nature. 



When Mr. Reaumur faw, for the firft time, two' polypes formed 

 from one that he had divided into two parts, he could hardly 

 believe his eyes ; and even after having repeated the operation an 

 hundred times, and again examined it an hundred more, he fays, 

 that the fisrht was not become familiar to him. 



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The firft account the Royal Society received of the furprizing 

 properties of this in feci, was in a letter from M. Button (dated the 

 18th of July, 1741) to Martin Folkes, Efq. their prefident, ac- 

 quainting them with the difcovery of a fmall infecl called a poly- 

 pus, which is found flicking about the common duck weed, and 

 which, being cut in two, puts forth from the upper part a tail, 

 and from the lower end a head, fo as to become two animals 

 in flea d of one. If it be cut into three parts, the midd'emoft puts 

 out from one end a head, and from the other a tail, fo as to be- 

 come three diftincl animals, all living like the firft, and perform- 

 ing the various offices of their fpecies : which obfer various are, 

 adds M. Buff on, well averred. 



There 



