336 Of Clufering Polypes, 
to another Pair, and thofe branch themfelves 
out again, in the fame Manner, till the Cluf- 
ter is compleated. The Extremities or 
Heads of the fmall Stalks are the Bodies of 
the Animals, in the Differences of whofe 
Figure confifls the Variety of the Species. 
Being fituated in this Order round the com¬ 
mon Stem at different Heights and Diftances, 
they make a very pretty Appearance, when 
extended in the Water; not ill refefnbling a 
Nofegay of Cowflips, qr fome fuch Kind of 
Flowers. And one Would imagine the feve- 
ral Heads and their Pedicles to proceed from 
one common Stem, as the Branches and 
Flowers of a Plant do from one common 
Trunk; but a contrary Progreffion takes 
place here : for in a Plant the Trunk pro¬ 
duces Branches, and thofe Branches again 
produce Flowers; whereas the Head here is 
prior to the Pedicle, and the Pedicle to the 
main Stem, as will by and by be fhewn. 
The Heads, or little Animals, (of which 
Multitudes fometimes are dependent from 
one Stem,) open their anterior Ends, and 
play about very briikly in the Water, as far 
as their refpedtive Pedicles will permit; but 
every now and then, one or other of them 
fprings back with a fudden Contraction, 
which probably may be when it has catched 
fomething that it retires to eat: for this 
they do when nothing at all offends them ; 
but if they are made uneafy, by Braking the 
Water, 
/ 
