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the internode in which the series commences. The series, for 

 instance, which begins with the single cup, as at fig. 5, «, presents its 

 second cup at the first bifurcation and on the opposite side, so that 

 the pair of cups exists, but they are not opposite each other, and as 

 the series presents but one cell before the branch bifurcates, no other 

 cup is formed in that series. For it is also to be remarked, that the 

 tubular prolongation from the cells of each newly intercalated series, 

 as long as the internode in which the series commences is continued 

 without bifurcation, ascends on the posterior aspect of the branch, and 

 gives off cups at each pair of cells immediately above that, of which 

 the cell whence the tubular prolongation arises constitutes one ; but 

 that at the bifurcation, each series sends up its tubular prolongation 

 on the anterior aspect of the branch, and never again affords origin to 

 a cup. So that each series is connected with cups only at or near 

 its origin, and is quite distinct, morphologically, from all the cups 

 above the first bifurcation into which it enters. Thus, therefore, 

 it may be said, that each series of polypiferous cells constitutes 

 an individual or distinct organism, composed of a variable number of 

 cells, and having near its inferior extremity or towards its origin, one, 

 two, or three cups, which are either opposite each other in pairs, or 

 not. I will not here enter into any long disquisition, as to the light 

 which this cui'ious relation between the cells and cups may throw 

 upon their nature respectively, as in the present stage of inquiry, any 

 speculation would, at least, as far as T can perceive, be premature and 

 unsatisfactory. But the fact is curious, and taken in connexion with 

 it I will remark, that although the polypiferous cells at the bottom of 

 the branches, or at the bottom of each series, as it may be expressed, 

 are always empty, and having performed their functions have become 

 apparently useless ; yet the cups belonging to the same series, and 

 which consequently are placed below all these effete cells, retain 

 their vital activity, and exhibit the same motions as those higher up 

 the branch, and seemingly in more immediate connexion with active 

 polypiferous cells. It would almost appear as if the polypiferous 

 cells were to be regarded in the same light as the joints of a 

 tape-worm, which as they maturate their ova are thrown off, and are 

 replaced by a continued succession from above, as long as the head or 

 nutrient organ of the aggregate animal retains its connexion with the 

 source of nutrition. In the same way the polypiferous cells, as they 

 are most probably the organs in which the ova are formed, appear af- 

 ter a time to discharge their contents, consisting not only of ova, but 

 also of the polype itself, whose special function seems to have been 



