( io8 ) 
jfplit, and form four diftinct animals; thefe four 
in an equal time again fplit alfo, and thus pro- 
ceed, doubling their numbers daily, till they 
acquire a figure fomewhat refembling a nofe- 
gay; the young afterwards feparate from the 
parent ftock, attach themfelves ' the roots or 
leaves of aquatic plants, and each individual 
gives rife to a new colony. The frefli- water 
polypus may be cut into innumerable divifions, 
and every feparate piece will become a fepa- 
rate animal ; a hiftory fo analogous to the 
tale of the hydra's heads, as to induce us no , 
longer to believe that ftory fabulous ; and in- 
deed we have facts from the experiments of 
Monf. Trembly in regard to the frefh- water 
polypus, or hydra, which equal any ideas 
that could occur to the mo ft romantic fa- 
bulift. And may it not be found, in fome of 
the tribes of vegetables belonging to the 
clafs Cryptogam ia, that fimilar modes of in- 
creafe take place, exclufive of all others ? for 
the increafe of plants by firings and fuckers, 
may be confidered analogous to the repro- 
duction of the Hydra genus. On fo obfcure 
a fubjccl light might, perhaps, be thrown 
from experiments founded on analogy : it is 
certain that little progrefs has been made in 
the knowledge of thefe extraordinary vegetables 
by 
