Mr. Patterson on the C^dippe Pomiformis. 101 



a carael-liair pencil, but without effect. In about half an hour afterwards, when 

 I again observed them, they were asunder, the Beroe swimming about, and the 

 cilia of its bands vibrating as briskly as usual. It had not, however, escaped un- 

 injured from its captor. The Callirhoe had taken from the body of the Beroe a 

 portion which extended transversely across three of the bands, and longitudinally 

 for about the one-third of its entire length. The being who had suffered this 

 mutilation seemed, however, quite unconscious of its misfortune, moved about in 

 every respect as before, and for four days, during which I afterwards kept it, 

 seemed to possess all its powers in unimpaired activity. 



To this instance of apparent insensibility to pain may be added one illustra- 

 tive of the extent to which the principle of vitality, or of vital irritability, seems 

 diffused throughout every portion of its frame. On one occasion two Beroes 

 were taken after a storm, with some of the cilia abraded, and other parts of the 

 body shattered and even torn. Any of the cilia, however, which were attached 

 to these mutilated parts, retained all their former mobility unimpaired. The 

 most damaged of these Beroes was then cut with a pair of scissors into several 

 pieces, and each part exhibited in its cilia the same undiminished rapidity of 

 movement. One of these portions was again subdivided into parts so minute 

 as to possess only one or two cilia on each, yet no change in the ceaseless 

 motion of these extraordinary organs took place. Thirty -three hours after this 

 minute subdivision, several of them were vibrating as usual ; and, at the expira- 

 tion of forty-two hours, the two cilia belonging to one fragment showed un- 

 diminished activity. 



If a longitudinal incision be made in the body of a Beroe when dead, and the 

 watery particles allowed gradually to evaporate, the bands of cilia and the tenta- 

 cula will appear as if painted in a confused manner on the surface whereon the 

 body has been placed, and when perfectly dry can be removed by a touch, as 

 completely as if they had never formed a portion of animated existence. 



Although, from this circumstance, it is obvious that the quantity of solid 

 matter which enters into the composition of their bodies, must be extremely 

 trifling, they possess a greater degree of firmness and consistency than is gene- 

 rally supposed. Frequently have some of them dropped from my net into the 

 boat when about transferring them to the glass vessels in which they were kept ; 

 and, at such times, I have invariably lifted them in my fingers, and placed them 



