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proceed from their Thicknefs ? And is it not pofilbly 
a Rule, that the flenderer Worms of this Clafs arc, 
the fooner the Pieces feparated from them will 
refume what is wanting? I Ihould incline to think 
it is fo. 
XIII. But if the Water has its InfeCts, thus pro* 
duced from Cuttings, the Earth is not abfolutely 
without them. It alio contains fome perhaps yet 
more deferving our Admiration, than all that have 
hitherto been obferved in this Kind. Thofe I mean, 
are Worms not to be fought for from Japan or China > 
but Infers to be met with every-where, and which, 
in the Eye of the Vulgar, appear the molt contempti- 
ble. In fhort, they are-only the common Earth-worms. 
When I began thefe Inquiries, I judged thefe Worms 
more proper than any others to be put to the Trial. 
Two things perfuaded me to it: i Their enormous 
Size, in comparifon of thofe I had begun to work 
upon : And, zdly> The Manner in which they pro- 
pagate. Every body now knows that thefe Worms 
are Hermaphrodites , but not fuch as I have fhewn 
the Pitcerons to be : That is to fay, that an Earth- 
worm, though it is of both Sexes, cannot ingender 
without the Concurrence of its like. I have there- 
fore divided fomc of thefe into Two, and others into 
Four Pieces; and fome of them, at the End of about 
Three Months, which they have palled in a fort of 
Lethargy, did then proceed to refume both Heads and 
Tails. The Reproduction of the Anus is no long 
Work, a few Days are fufficient for it; but it is 
otherwife with the Head ; that does not feem to 
perform its Functions in the Pieces of divided 
*W orms, till about Seven Months after the Operation. 
Now 
