Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-04

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 l .Nczviy Discovered .fnimal-Ort the Hvdra I of the .1acients not Fabuious.-The follow
 ing account of paper read at late meeting I of the Eclectic Society, will, we are certain, I bt read with much interest and surprise. In truth, it almost realises the fabled hydra of the ancient: After the routine of business, Dr James Rawlins Johnson read this paper on the Planaria torva. The learnend Doctor stated that his attention had been drawn to these singular animals by observing parts wanting in some. and in others such variety of appearances as might have justified an inat-
 ten.ive observer in supposing that they were
 of different species. The Planaria are found near the Red-house, Battersea, and are Of a dirty brown, or black color they vary in length from third to half an inch, and have some resemblance to leech. They have two eyes, placed like the eyes of sole they have two abdominal apertures; one, by which they feed, is situated above the place of the umbilicus in land animals, or even lower, which is very extraordinary; the other is the anal opening, situated at little distance be- low the former. They feed by means of a trumpet-shaped probocis, which sprotruded,
 and bears strong resemblance to the trunk
 of an elephant. DrJ. having first vindcated himself from the charge of cruelty, by show ing that animals so very low in the scale of being, arc almost, if not quite exempt, from he sense of pain, proceeded to state the re-
 suit of his experiments. He cut off the head
 of full sized Planaria, below the eyes, a new Iaead was reproduced in few days, varying from nine to fourteen. He cut off the second head; anew cnewas again regenerated; a third, fourth, fifth and sixth experiment met with the same success and the Doctor is of opinion, that if the cold weather (which is unfavorable Ito these creatures) had not set in, any number of heads might have been produced from the same body In one of these experiments a new head was found with but one eye, and that in the centre. He next made a longitu- dinal incision in another Planara, between f the eyes, and an incision at right angles with it; thus cutting off half the head, together with one of the eyes: in about fourten days the piece was reproduced with new eye, in the most perfect symmetry. The Doctor divided another planaria into three equal DOT tions trarsversely the head speedily acquir- ed new body and tail, the tail produced a
 new body and head, and the middle piece re- gained d new head and tail. He divided ma iy other planaria into six and even eight parts;
 ach portion retained its vitality, and set about eproducing as much of a new body as was fequircd to restore it to the form of the per feet animal of which it formed once compo-
 ncnt part. The Doctor dissected wedge
 shaped pieces out of the heads of other plana- ria. which were speedily reproduced, and | what is most curious occurrcd-that accord | ing to the depth and breadth of these wedge I shaped incisions,a new eye would be supplied, making three eyes; or two new eyes; making four eyes, or if the incisions were very deep, then, instead of new piece being supplied,
 the parts would divaricate, and form to per.
 feet heads The limits of this report preclude
 many important and curious matters relating
 to this wonderful little animal. The Dr. con-
 cluded by stating, that it is his intention to re- new his inquiries in the approaching season
 and that he had reason for believing he should I De able to discover other circumstances in the history of the planaria no less interesting thar the, foregoing. On the table were two living double-hcaded planaria. a.-London Literary Il Gdzette.
 f The following curious incident is related in tho | Police Reports ofthe New-York Courier:-
 Alfred Lozedo, young man of plausible appear , ance indicted for having attempted to steal pocke
 book containing some money from gentleman s pocket. It appears that the attempt to steal wa