C 4*5 ] 
Worms I have feveral times had the Pleafure of fee- 
ing them feize with great Dexterity and Eagernefsj 
foon after which they have fucked them in, and 
fwallowed them completely down, though apparently 
feveral times larger than themfelves. 
Mr. Trombley has, in the Fifth Page of his Relation 
juft publifhed in the laft Philofophical Tranfattions , 
given a very exad and curious Defcription of what 
concerns this laft Particular, of their taking and de- 
vouring their Prey : To which I fhall only add, that 
it appears to me, that the little ‘Papilla above de- 
fcribed on the Surface of the Arms aflift them like 
fo many Hooks or Tenters to hold their Worms 
barely by touching them ; for I have more than once 
feen a Polypus draw a Worm to him, and nimbly 
turn it about with a fingle Arm, only laid over it, 
without folding or clafping it } which laft Method, 
however, he makes ufe of alfo, when the Worm 
comes to ftruggle and ftrive hard to be difengaged. 
Generally before the Polypus fixes on the Worm 
with his Mouth, the Mouth and his whole Fore-part 
begins to extend itfelf ; and after fattening upon it; 
which is frequently near the Middle, the whole Body 
fwells, the Worm commonly appears bloody, and 
the Polypus fucks down a great deal of the Blood 
and Juice, before he begins to fwallow the Worm 
itfelf: During all this Time he continues to ex- 
tend and ftretch his Mouth, and that to fuch a 
Degree, that I have feen its Breadth, when in the A£t 
of firft bending in a Worm feized by the Middle, not 
lefs than the whole Length of the Animal when in a 
mean State of Extenfion. 
I * • 
1 1 2 
In 
