anus or vent ; it therefore again evacuates the remains 
of the animal on which it has preyed, by its mouth. 
It is capable of fwallowing a worm of twice or thrice 
its own fize ; which at firft appears incredible ; but is 
calily underftood when we confider that the Polype’s 
body is extremely extenfile, and is dilated on fuch oc- 
cafions to a furprifmg degree. 
The ufual manner in which Polypes propagate is by 
vegetation; one or two, or even more young ones e- 
merging gradually from the (ides of the parent animal ; 
and frequently thefe young ones arc again prolific be¬ 
fore they drop from the parent; fo that it is no un¬ 
common thing to fee two or three generations at once 
on the fame animal. But the molt afionifhing parti¬ 
cular is yet untold ; viz. that if a Polype is cut in pieces, 
it is not deftroyed but multiplied by its wounds, and 
what was faid of the fabulous Hydra of the ancients, is 
here literally true; 
" Fertilis et damnis dives ab ipfa fuis.” * 
A Polype of the common fize may be very conve¬ 
niently cut in three pieces, by taking the opportunity, 
when the creature is fully extended, of introducing a 
pair of feiflars gently into the glafs in which it is kept, 
and dividing it fuddenly; and when the tail-part is a- 
gain extended, repeating the fame operation : in this 
cafe the tail-part will produce a new head and arms, 
the head-part a new tail, and the middle part will re¬ 
produce both head, and arms, and tail; and all thefe 
will in a few days become as perfect, except in length, 
as 
\ 
* Rich from its lofs, and fruitful from its wound. 
