[ 4<S8 ] 
0/Infe£ts which are multiplied > as it were , 
hy Cuttings or Slips. 
M. Trembley , a Relation of mine, and an ex- 
cellent Obferver, wrote to me fome time ago from 
the Hague , that he had difeovered a fort of aquatic 
Produdion * of a Nature between a Plant and an 
Animal; that is to fay, which moved, and which had 
the outward Appearance of a Plant, together with 
the Property of reproducing what was wanting, 
after being cut or divided into Two or Three feveral 
Parts. So extraordinary a Produdion could not fail 
exciting my Curiofty, fo much the more, as my 
Friend did not enter into any Particulars. I fpared no 
Pains to get fome of thefe little Bodies, but all in vain. 
I only difeovered a fort of a long Worm, extremely 
nimble, upon which I refolved to try the Experiment. 
As nothing could leave the leaf! Doubt, but that this 
Infcd was truly an Animal, I was affured, that, if my 
Experiments fucceeded, I fhould fully make out, that 
there are really Infeds to which Nature has given 
that ftrange Prerogative of being multiplied, as it 
were, by Cuttings, and thereby ftrongly confirm M. 
Trembley s noble Difcovery. The Succefs perfedly 
anfwered my Expedation, and I foon had the Plea- 
fure of feeing Two Worms made out of One. But 
before I enter into farther Particulars, it will perhaps 
not be amifs to give a flight Idea of the Strudure of 
thofe Worms. Simple as they feem at their firft 
Appearance, we no fooner examine them with Eyes 
prepared and armed with Magnifying-glaffes, but we 
difeover Parts no lefs proper to excite and fix our 
* See thefe Tranfattiws, N° 407. and 4 69. p. 422. 
At- 
