iBa Of the frejh Water Polype. 
the fuperficies of the earth, they quit the dirt, and pafs 
into the fand, and remain near the fuperficies' thereof. 
They may be taken in. very great quantities, after pre¬ 
paring the bottom of the water in this manner. 
Thefe worms are found in great abundance in the mud 
©f the river Thames ; when the tide is out, they rife in 
fueh fwarms on the furface thereof, that it appears of a 
red colour. 
You may give to each polype a worm much longer,, 
and alfo a little thicker than the polype is when extended; 
but then care muft be taken to let the worm fall upon 
their arms, otherwife they will mifs of them, becaufe they 
fall diredtly to the bottom. Their fenfe of feeling is fo 
delicate, that if a worm touches even the utmoft extre¬ 
mity of thefe very flender arms, they immediately by 
elafping them about it, invelope and fetter it in fo many 
places, that it is foon rendered uncapable of ftruggling to 
any purpofe, it ealily yields, and at laft is fwallowed into 
the polype’s ftomach, fig. 380. where it may be difcerned 
through the polype’s fkin. 
Thefe worms are the bed; nouriftiment for the polypes,, 
especially in the winter, therefore if you gather a fufficient 
quantity of them in November, and put them into large 
glades full of water, with three or four inches of earth 
at the bottom, you will have a fupply for the polypes all 
the winter, and may fifh them up out of thefe glades, as 
out of the river. 
Sometimes a pretty thick red worm, about half an inch 
long, is taken up with the reft, and is reprefented at c d, 
fig. 382. It is the fame as that defcribed by Mr. Reaumer, 
in the firft Memoir of the fifth volume of his Hiftory of 
Infects, page 29. 
Polypes 
