Microscopical Essays* 



approach each other and clofe, whereby a fwelling is formed on 

 the fide of the polype, which is foon found to be a new head. 

 When the fwelling is eonfiderably increafed, the two polypes may 

 be plainly diftinguifhecL The fuperior one being now connected 

 with the inferior one only by it's lower extremity, is foon detached 

 from it, and fwims away to fix itfelf on fome convenient fub- 

 ftance ; the inferior one remains faftened to the place where the 

 original polype was fixed before the divifion. 



From the various modes by which different fpecies of polypes 

 are multiplied, we are led to form more exalted ideas of nature, 

 and to fee that the little we difcover is but an exceeding {mall part 

 of her contents ; we learn alfo to be more cautious in reafoning 

 from analogy, and laying down the known for a model to the un- 

 known, becaufe we find that the operations in nature are varied 

 ad infinitum, 



, The growth of the hydra fufea is very quick, but that of the 

 hydra ftentorea is much more fo. The progrefs of the fcetus 

 is always more rapid than that of the infant and adult animal § but 

 in thefe organized atoms* the evolution is. fo rapid, as to appear 

 almoft like an. immediate creation* 



Fig. 28 reprefents the hydraefientorese, or funnel-polype, fixed 

 to the under fide of a piece of fome vegetable fubftance ; they are 

 in this figure of their natural fize. 



Fig. 27, the fame polype magnified ; the different forms they 

 afiume are alfo feen here, fometimes fhort and thick as at m 

 long as at n, nearly globular as at o, extended to the full fize as 



