“XVI 
intropucrion. 
As we fhall frequently ’ have Occafion, in the enfuing — 
~Woik, to make Ufe of the Term Polype, it will be necel 
fary to give the Reader; -who ;»may’ be unacquainted with — 
- thefe Subjects, fome Idea of it; which, perhaps, may be 
done the ‘moft fatisfaGtorily, by deferibing the Frefh-water 
-Polype, whofe extraordinary Properties have been fo fully 
“enquired into by the ingenious Mr. Zrembley, F.R.S. 
In Plate XXVIII. at Fig. C, is exhibited a long-armed 
°°" Brefh-water Polype of this Author: From this Reprefenta- 
‘tion the Reader will eafily know what is intended, when we 
fpeak of the Marine Polype, its Arms, Claws, &c. 
This Animal then is, firtt, of a Worm-fhaped F igure, and 
of the fame Kind of tender Subftance with the Horns of the _ 
‘common Snail: It adheres by one End, like a Sucker, to 
_ Water-plants and other Subftances. The other End, which 
is the Head, is furrounded by many Armas or Feeders, placed 
like Rays round a Centre ; this Centre is its Mouth; and 
with thefe tender Arms, which are capable of great Exten- — 
‘fion, particularly in this Species, it feizes minute: Worm eit 
-and various Kinds of Water-Infe&ts, and brings them to ‘its . 
Mouth; and often fwallows Bodies larger than itfelf ; hav- 
ing a furprizing Property of extending its Mouth wider, in 
‘proportion, than any other Animal. After its Food is di- 
gefted in its Stomach, it returns the Remains of the Animals 
it feeds on through its Mouth again, having no other ob-— 
fervable Emunctory. — | 
In-a few Days there appear {mall Knobs, or Papille, on 
its Sides: As thefe increafe in Length, little Fibres are feen 
rifing out of the Circumference of their Heads, as in the Pa- 
rent Animal, which Fibres, they foon begin to ufe, for the 
Purpofe of procuring Nourifhment, &%. When the are _ 
arrived 
