.MzEw.NjQzNA

underline On Animal Reproductions /underline

There is a Gradation between the Mineral, Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms; the steps of Nature are not abrupt but insensible from the One to the Other, the Ladder of Nature is formed by regular, and equidistant steps.

The Animal Cases called Madrepores, Tubipores, Millepores, and Sertularia, were long considered by Old German Writers as marine Fossils.

Corallines till of late were deemed vegetating Sea Plants.

They are now known to be animal Productions. The Discovery of the Polypus bleads the properties of the Vegetable, and Animal in to one Being.

Leibnitz had long since presumed foreign: French underline que la nature ne va point par Sants /underline /foreign. Instead of Leaps he imagined Nature's gradations to be like the Tincts of Colours, imperceptible in their Blendings.

Koenig in 1752. published a letter from Leibnitz to his Friend Herman, he says in it foreign: French underline Les Hommes tiennent aux Animaux, Ceux-ci aux Plantes, et Celles-ci dereches aux Fossilles. /underline /foreign

He says that there is nothing absurd in the Existence of Animal Plants, that he imagines such Zoophytes may hereafter be discovered that may be fed, and may multiply from shorts, as off-sets, in the manner of Plants.

Leibnitz's Prophecy was fulfilled by the discovery of the Polypes propagated by Off-sets, and by being cut which also partakes of the Vegetable, as the Head of one Polype may be grafted to the Body of another Polype.