[ 469 ] 
like oyfters, and other fhell-fijfh, nature had im- 
power’d them to form themfelves a ftony dwelling 
for their protection and fupport, each according to 
its kind. 
Some account of M. de Peyffonnel’s difcoveries 
was tranfmitted by him to the Royal Academy of 
Sciences at Paris in the year 1727 j but they were 
not much attended to, till our ingenious brother Mr. 
Trembley’s difcovery of the frefh-water polype. This 
added much to their weight, and occafion’d M. Ber- 
nard de Juffieu, of this Society, and of the Royal 
Academy of Sciences at Paris, to vifit, in the year 
1741, the fea-coafts of Normandy, in order to fatisfy 
himfelf of the nature of thefe marine productions ; 
and his obfervations confirmed thofe of M. de Peyf- 
fonnel. The fentiments of that great naturalift M. 
de Reaumur upon this fubjeCt may be feen at large 
in the preface to the iixth volume of his hiftory of 
infeCts. 
I cannot conclude this account, without obferving, 
that, in my opinion, the Royal Society is greatly ob- 
liged to M. de Peylfonnel, for his tranfmitting this 
manufcript, which I confider as a very valuable 
literary prefent. 
LXXVI. 
