LOOKING-GLASS. 
195 . 
ESSAY XXIII. 
0?i Worms. 
AMONG all living creatures, worms are thofe 
whofe defcription forms the moft difficult talk, on 
account of their incalculable number and infinite 
varieties, abounding in all parts of the univerfe, in 
every element, as well as in animals and vege- 
tables, for the wifeft purpofe as if they were 
the principal agents employed by Nature to deftroy, 
corrupt, or purify her glorious works. 
They are generally divided into fix clafles, de- 
fcribed according to their refpe6tive forms and qua- 
lities, viz. — 
ifl. Microfcopic worms, refembiing vegetables, 
— fuch as the polypus, the proteus, and others 
which are not familiarly known to us, on account 
of the changes that they undergo ; but they are all 
equally diftinguiffied by one common trait, — their 
voracity in deftroying whatever (olid body comes 
within their reach, except their own fpecies 
as if they had no other faculty than tp digcll, as 
they do, in their imperfedt (late of exigence. 
They polTefs the furprifing power to reproduce 
themfelves, not only from their eggs, but likewife 
