CHAPTER XIV. 



GEEM-HISTOIIY OF THE AMPHIOXUS AND OF THE 



ASCIDIAN. 



Relationship of the Vertebrates and Invertebrates. — Fertilization of the 

 Amphioxus. — The Egg undergoes Total Cleavage, and changes into a 

 Spherical Germ-membrane Vesicle (Blastula). — From this the Intes- 

 tinal Larva, or Gastrula, originates by Inversion. — The Gastrula of the 

 Ainphioxns forms a Medullary Tube from a Dorsal Furrow, and 

 between this and the Intestinal Tube, a Notochord : on both Sides the 

 latter is a Series of Muscle-plates; the Metamera. — Fate of the 

 Four Secondary Germ-layers. — The Intestinal Canal divides into an 

 Anterior Gill-intestine, and a Posterior Stomach-intestine. — Blood- 

 vessels and an Intestinal-muscle "Wall originate from the Intestinal - 

 fibrous Layer. — A Pair of Skin -folds (Gill-roofs) grow out from the 

 Side-wall of the Body, and, by Coalescence, form the Ventral Side of 

 the Large Gill-cavity. — The Ontogeny of the Ascidian is, at first, iden- 

 tical with that of the Amphioxus. — The same Gastrula is Developed, 

 which forms a Notochord between the Medullary and Intestinal Tubes. 

 — Retrogressive Development of the same. — The Tail with the Xotochord 

 is shed. — The Ascidian attaches itself firmly, and envelopes itself in 

 its Cellulose Tunic. — Appendicularia, a Tunicate which remains through, 

 out Life in the Stage of the Larval Ascidian and retains the Tail-fin 

 with the Chorda (Chordonia). — General Comparison and Significance of 

 the Amphioxus and the Ascidian. 



" In the formation of its most important organs, the Amphioxus remains 

 throughout life at that lowest stage of development, which all other Verte- 

 brates pass rapidl}^ through during the earliest period of their embryonic 

 existence. We must therefore regard the Amphioxus with peculiar reverence 

 as that animal, which among all existing creatiu'es is the one alone capable 



