64 Abbe dicquem are’s Third Effay 
imagine, efpecially on account of the union of the fibres 
in a common centre, that a fimple fhred produced an ane- 
mony. But from what caufe does this little fragment 
contrail into a circle, and increafe its thicknefs? how 
111 all we account for its vifible tendency towards forming 
a new animal? is it a neceflary inftinit ? can it be ad- 
mitted that in thefe animals the vital principle is pecu- 
liar to every particle? and in what manner is it, or is it 
not, fubordinate to the general organization of the indi- 
vidual, according to circumftances which it feems in our 
power to modify ? How many fpecious reafonings might 
he made on this fubjeft, did we prefer the admiration of 
the public to real truth ! The only inference that I think 
can as yet be derived from thefe and the following obfer- 
vations is, that there certainly are animated beings which 
multiply, as it were, by flips; but whether the con- 
currence 
apparence de bulbe, et je n’y en ai point vu depuis : j’ai done ete tente decroire, 
furtout a caufe de la reunion du bout des fibres a un centre commun, que c’etoit 
an fimple lambeau qui devenoit anemone. Mais qui eft ce qui fait, qu’etant 
detachee, cette petite portion fe recourbe, et prend de 1’epailTeur ? par quelle caufe 
tend-elle vifiblement a former un animal? fent-elle alors la neceffite de le 
devenir ? le principe de la vie feroit-il, dans ces animaux, particulier a chacune 
de leurs parties ; et comment eft il, ou n’eft il pas, felon les circonftances que 
nous pouvons faire naitre, fubordonne a Torganifation generate de l’individu ? 
Oh, fi on etoit tente de preferer l’admiration du public a la bonne foi, que de 
chofes a dire ! Tout ce qui me fembie qu’on peut conclure de ces obfervations, et 
plus encore de celles qui vont fuivre, c’efl qu’il ell vrayment des etres animes 
qui fe multiplient comme de bouture ; mais j’attends etre inflruit par des 
nouvelles 
