as the animal was at firft. In fhort. Polypes may be 
cut in all diredions and in every manner that can be 
conceived, without injuring them; and will amply re¬ 
pay the trouble attending the experiments by the afto- 
nifhing views which they will exhibit during their dif¬ 
ferent degrees of growth. 
As the green Polype is one of the moft common a- 
nimals of the kind in this country, we have feleded it 
as the belt and moft familiar example of the genus: 
Its moft general length is from a quarter to half an 
inch, when extended, exclufive of the arms; but 
fometimes it grows to a much greater extent. The 
firft difcovery of this animal was towards the end of 
the laft century by Leewenhoek ; but he was not ac¬ 
quainted with its extraordinary properties of reproduc¬ 
tion. It feems to have been negleded after Leevven- 
hoek’s obfervation, ’till the year 1740, when Mr. 
Trembley of Geneva again difcovered it; and by in¬ 
numerable experiments was convinced of its reproduc¬ 
tive nature. His experiments were foon made public ; 
were repeated by all the Naturalifts of Europe; feve- 
ral other fpecies w'ere difcovered, as well as many o- 
ther animals which polfefs the fame power of repro¬ 
duction, and a new Era commenced in the annals of 
Natural Hiftory. 
Fig. 1. A Polype magnified. 
Fig. 2, 3, &c. Polypes, fome in their natural fize, and others 
flightly magnified. 
Fig. 7. A Polype feizing a worm. 
