274 



HARDWICKE'S SCIEN Cfi-GO S S i P. 



LDec. 1, 1S70. 



I was too young at that time to have thought of 

 treading "the flowery paths of science/' nor were 

 any of the party of an entomological turn of mind ; 

 the matter was not therefore more closely investi- 

 gated. All that was done was to perpetrate divers 

 mild witticisms, anent " perjured Clarence" and the 

 hutt of Malmsey, and to affect great wrath with the 

 waiter for producing wine made from the native 

 gooseberry, and but lately transferred from the 

 cask to the bottle. This of course was intended as 

 a mere joke ; my father was much too good a judge 

 of wine, and the hotel itself was of too high a 

 standing, to permit us to think that such a paltry 

 imposition could be effected, even if it were 

 practicable. 



So ended the matter at the time. It occurred 

 (as I observed above) many years ago ; but it made 

 an indelible impression on my mind, and I have 

 often thought of it since as a striking instance of a 

 phenomenon which is to me perfectly inexplicable. 

 ■ Havre. W. W. Spicek. 



THE STATOBLAST OF PLUMATELLA. 



THE paper on Plumatella repens in Science- 

 Gossip for October, briefly notices the Stato- 

 blast as one form of reproduction, and having a 

 number of them at this moment in my aquarium, I 

 have sketched a few in various stages of develop- 

 ment. 



Eirst let me observe that the Polyzoa are re- 

 produced in three ways. 



1. By true ova. 



2. By gemmse, or bud-development. 



3. By statoblasts, or winter ova, which remain 

 for a considerable time inactive, and usually develop 

 in the first warmth of spring. 



The commonest form of Plumatella is well repre- 

 sented by Mr. Hammond, and in this month the 

 surface of most quiet streams and ponds will yield 

 an abundant supply of Statoblasts, tiny brown dots 

 to the unassisted eye ; but with a good pocket lens, 

 a reticulated surface is revealed, the darker border 

 enclosing a lighter oval. 



These winter-eggs, or Statoblasts, were secreted 

 within the tunicata of the Zoophyte, growing like 

 buds upon the funiculus, or small cord, which at- 

 taches the stomach to the endocyst, or inner tunic. 

 This will be better understood and appreciated by 

 considering the internal structure of this class of 

 Zoophytes, which are such valuable additions to the 

 fresh-water aquarium, so easily procured, so exceed- 

 ingly lovely under the simplest microscope. 



On the surface of a pond, the leaves of Lemna are 

 studded with these minute bodies from September 

 to April. I had a number in my small aquarium 

 last month, and a fortnight ago observed that one 



Fig-. 218. The Plumatella magnified. The internal structure. 



a. Polyp emerging Irom its tube; b. lophophore or mem- 

 brane from which the tentacles radiate; c. cardiac cavity 

 of stomach ; d. pyloric cavity of stomach ; e. the'rectum ; 

 /. funiculus ; g. perigastric space between the alimentary 

 canal and the endocyst; h. endocyst, internal coat or tunic ; 

 i. extocyst, external coat or tunic. 



Fig. 219. The Statoblast developing. 



