510 A DESCRIPTION OF 
frog. Two Polypes may occasionally be seen in the act 
of seizing the same worm at different ends, and dragging 
it in opposite directions with great force. It sometimes 
happens, that while one is swallowing its respective end, 
the other is also employed in the same manner ; and thus 
they continue swallowing, each his part, until their 
mouths meet. They then rest for some time in this situa- 
tion, till the worm breaks between them, and each goes 
off with his share. But when the mouths of both are 
thus joined together upon one common prey, a more dan- 
gerous combat now and then ensues. The largest Polype 
gapes and swallows his antagonist; but what is extremely 
wonderful, the animal thus swallowed seems to be a 
gainer by the misfortune ; after it has lain in the con- 
queror's body for about an hour, it issues unhurt, and 
often in possession of the prey that had been the original 
cause of contention. The remains of the animal, on 
which the Polype feeds, are evacuated at the mouth, the 
only opening in the body. The species are multiplied, 
for the most part, by a kind of vegetation, one or two, or 
even more young ones, emerging gradually from the sides 
of the parent animal ; and these young ones are fre- 
quently again prolific before they drop off: so that it is 
no uncommon thing to see two or three generations at 
once on the same Polype. But the most astonishing 
particular respecting this animal is, that if a Polype be 
cut in pieces, it is not destroyed, but is multiplied by dis- 
section 5 it may be cut in every direction that fancy can 
suggest, and even into very minute divisions, and not 
only the parent stock will remain uninjured, but every 
section will become an animal. Even when turned inside 
out, it suffers no material injury; for, in that state, it 
will soon begin to take food, and to perform all its other 
natural functions. 
M. Trembley, of Geneva, ascertained that different 
portions of one Polype could be engrafted on another. 
