Of Cluftering Polypes . 335 
During all the Spring and Summer Sea- 
fons, but efpecially in the Months of April 
and May, great Abundance of thefe, of dif¬ 
ferent Species, are to be found on the Shells 
or Eggs of Water Snails, on the Leaves of 
Duckweed and other Water-Plants, on little 
floating Sticks, Straws, or whatever elfe lie 
upon or near the Surface of ftagnant Ditches 
or'Ponds, for they don't chufe to be at any 
great Depth in Water. The Reafon they 
have been but lately and fo little taken No¬ 
tice of, is, I apprehend, their extreme Mi- 
nutenefs, which renders them invifible, un- 
lefs by a very good Light, and with Glaffes 
that magnify confiderably : at the fame Time 
an Area, fufiicient to take in their whole 
Groups or Branches, mull come in View, or 
elfe no Idea can be formed of them ; and 
we know, ’tis not many Years, that Micro - 
/copes have been fo far improved, as to com¬ 
mand a large and well illuminated Area by 
Glades that magnify much, or to have pro¬ 
per Conveniences for examining Objefts 
even in a Angle Drop of Water. 
Through all the different Species of this 
Kind of Animal, there is an Analogy or Uni¬ 
formity, as to the general Figure of their 
Clutters or Colonies. Each Colony feems 
conftantly to arife from one Stem or Stalk, 
which is always affixt to fome extraneous 
Body : This Stem divides into a Couple of 
fmaller ones, each of which fubdivides in- 
7 % tQ 
