2 ST 
[ ™ ] 
themfelves, bat alfo their Offsprings, which from 
Generation to Generation, as far as the Seventh, 
were all confined to Solitude with the fame Precau- 
tion. 
Another Fad, which I have obferved, has proved 
to me, that they have the Faculty of multiplying, be- 
fore they are fevered from their Parent. I have feen 
a Polypus , dill adhering, bring forth young ones; 
and thofe young ones themfelves have alfo brought 
forth others. Upon Suppofition, that perhaps there 
was fome Copulation between the Parent and young 
ones, whilft they were yet united; or between the 
young ones coming from the Body of the fame Parent ; 
I made divers Experiments, to be fure of the Fad; 
but not one of thofe Experiments ever led me to any 
thing that could give the Idea of a Copulation. 
The 'Polypus multiplies more or lefs, as he is 
more or lefs fed, and as the Weather is more or lefs 
warm. If plenty of Food, and a fufficient Degree 
of Warmth concur, they multiply prodigioufiy. 
I now proceed to the Singularities refulting from 
the Operations I have tried upon them. 
If rhe Body of a Polypus is cut into two Parts 
tranfverfly, each of thofe Parts becomes a complete 
Polypus. On the very Day of the Operation, the firft 
Part, or anterior End of the Polypus , that is, the Head, 
the Mouth, and the Arms ; this Part, I fay, lengthens 
itfclf, it creeps, and eats. 
The fecond Part, which has no Head, gets one ; a 
Mouth forms itfelf, at the anterior End ; and floors 
forth Arms. This Reprodudion comes about more 
or lefs quickly, according as the Weather is more or 
lefs warm. In Summer, I have feen Arms begin to 
fprout 
