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Farther Illustrations of the Propagation of Scottish Zoophytes, 

 By John Graham Dalyell, Esq.* Communicated by 

 the Author. 



Oveepassing for the present those nicer distinctions pro- 

 posed by the arrangement and nomenclature of modern sys- 

 tems, I mean by Zoophytes to signify in general such animated 

 products as resemble the form of plants, and consist wholly or 

 partially of beings analogous to the hydra or polypus. 'No 

 other name can be equally expressive of their nature. 



Most of the lower animals propagate through the medium 

 of an ovum, invested by an integument of different tenacity 

 or induration, containing the elements of their progeny along 

 with nutritious matter. This ovum is in itself inert, devoid of 

 spontaneous motion, nor is it susceptible of being displaced by 

 the struggles of the foetus included, as may be seen during the 

 internal revolution of certain planariae and the vehement ac- 

 tion of various sepiae. 



The development and escape of the foetus from the ovum 

 may sometimes ensue within the parent, as well as after extru- 

 sion of the ovum from its body. 



Though necessary to premise these general principles, they 

 are disturbed by many anomalies ; whence the naturalist is 

 compelled to resort to desultory illustrations in establishing 

 analogies between certain animals now standing far apart in 

 the Systema Natura:, 



I. A healthy and prolific Actinia commonly affixes itself to 

 the side of its vessel horizontally, that full scope may be al- 

 lowed to its organs. Then the distended tentacula of the 

 lower half are occupied by the young in various stages ; and 

 interspersed among them, or separately, in other tentacula may 

 be seen an opaque corpusculum of infinitely smaller dimensions, 

 pursuing an irregular course through the liquid contents. 



On amputation of the tentacula, one or more of these latter 

 beings is discharged. All are opaque, red, solid, and of consider- 

 able specific gravity, and having a general resemblance to some 



• The previous observations are contained in the Philosophical Journal for 

 October 1834, and in the Report of the Proceedings of the British Association 

 »t Edinburgh. 



