Experiments on Marine Testaceous Animals. 63 



Art. II. Experiments made with a view of ascertaining how far 

 certain marine testaceous animals, possess the power of renewing 

 parts which may have been removed.* By Madame Jeannette 

 Power, Member of the Gioenian Academy of Catania, and other 

 Scientific Societies, f 



In imitation of other observers of animated beings, as Signor 

 Abbate Spallanzani, and Charles Bonnet, who investigated 

 the reproductive powers of the Limaces, Polypi, and land tes- 

 taceous animals, I turned my attention to the marine species, 

 with a view of determining whether they possess, in an equal 

 degree, the power of reproducing such parts as may have been 

 cut off. 



These molluscs are generally very difficult to study in a 

 house ; for when taken from their proper element, the series 

 of their phenomena cannot be correctly observed. I there- 

 fore constructed a kind of cage,J which was made entirely on 

 a plan of my own, leaving between the bars a convenient in- 

 terval for the free passage of the water, without allowing the 

 animal to escape, when placed in the sea. I had several of 

 these cages made of different sizes, to correspond with the 

 bulk of the animals I meant to study, and placed them in 

 a sheltered part of the port of Messina, near the citadel. I 

 introduced some Murices, Tritones, and other testaceous 

 animals, as well as my favourite "Polpo delV Argonauta ;" 

 fiunishing them with proper aliment, although I frequently 

 found that they procured their own nourishment. 



I hope that this method will be not only approved, but a- 

 dopted by naturalists generally, when studying the habits of 

 marine molluscs ; they would by this means be rendered less 

 liable to form incorrect notions, and prevent their recurrence 

 to hypothesis. 



These cages should be placed according to the nature of the 

 animals to be studied ; some species, for instance, liking a ra- 

 ther muddy bottom ; and others requiring that marine plants 

 should be introduced along with them. 



The Illustrious Professor Charles Gemettaro having favored 

 me with a visit, in the month of August, I communicated my 

 method to him, and he greatly approved of it, as well as to 

 Dr. Cocco, who frequently accompanied me during my ob- 

 servations. 



* From the 13th Vol. of the Transactions of the Gioenian Academy of 

 Catania. 



f Translated by James Power, Esq. and communicated by the Authoress. 



% These cages were afterwards named, by the Academy, " Gabbiole alia 

 Power." 



