the water, and keep it ho for a minute; after which, tliruft the
point o f the pencil, together with the anterior end, by little and
little under water, until no mote than about half the tenth o f an
inch of the polype’s tail remains above it’s furface; at this inftant,
with the pointed quill remove that part o f the polype from the
pencil which is already in the water, and at the fame time blowing
again!! the polype, it will be loofened, and remain out o f
the water.
When the polypes were firft difcOvered, Mr. Trembley had
fome difficulty to find out that food which was proper for them;
but he foon difcovered, that a fmall fpecies o f the millepede
anfwered the purpofe very w e ll: the pulices aquatices have alfo
been recommended. The fmall red worms, which aie to be
found on the mud-banks o f the'Thames, particularly near the
fhores, anfwer the purpofe alfo; they are eafily found when the
tide is out, when they rife in fuch fwarms on the furface of the
mud, that it appears o f a red colour, f hefe worms are an excellent
food for the polype. I f a fofficient quantity .is gathered in
November, and put into a large glafs full o f water, with three or
four inches o f earth at the bottom, you will have a fupply for the
polypes all the winter. They may alfo be fed with common
worms, with the larva of gnats and other infeQs, and even with
butchers meat, &c. if it be cut fmall enough.
' River, or any foft water, agrees with them; but that which Is.
hard and lharp prevents their thriving, and generally kills them
in a few days. The worms with which they are fed ffiould be
always cleanfed before you feed the polypes with them.
The
The polypes are commonly infefted with little lic e ; from thefe
it is neceflary to free them, in order to preferve your polypes
in a good Hate of health. They "may be cleanfed from the lice
by rubbing them with a hair pencil; this cannot be eafily done,
without they have affixed themfelves to fome fubftance : fo that
if they are fufpended from the furfaee o f the water, you mull endeavour
to get them to fix themfelves to a piece o f packthread ;
when they are fattened thereto, you may then rub them with a
hair pencil, without loofening them from the thread.
The lice which torment the polype are not only very
numerous, but they are alfo very large -relative t.o it’s fize: they
may be faid to: be nearly as large with refpect to them, as a common
beetle is to us. I f they are not rubbed off, they foon cover
their bodies, and in a little time totally deftroy them.
To preferve the polypes in health, it is alfo neceflary often to
change the water they are kept in, and particularly after they
have done eating ; it is not fofficient to pour the water off, all
the polypes ffiould be taken out, and the bottom and fides o f the
veffel rubbed from the flimy fediment adhering thereto; this is
caufed by their feces, and is fatal fo them i f not cleaned
away. The faeces often occafion a fpecies of mortification, which
increafes every day; it’s progrefs may be flopped by cutting off
the difeafed part. T o take them out, firft loofen their tails from
the fides or bottom o f the glafs; then take them up one by one,
with a quill cut in the fhape o f a fcoop, and place them in another
glafs with clean water; if they cling to the quill, let it
remain a minute or two in water, and they will foon diiengage
themfelves. 1 '>./■ ..
U 2 They