264 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



some of these were what I had already drawn from my 

 own animal. One fact, however, is worth mentioning, 

 because, as far as I can ascertain, it is not known ; 

 namely, that the Pedicellina is viviparous, as well 

 as oviparous and gemmiparous. While examining a 

 cluster of them, I saw something protruding from 

 the mouth ; presently another something rose beside 

 it. I watched anxiously, with a certain flutter. I sus- 

 pected they were embryos. Slowly they emerged, and 

 the suspicion grew stronger and stronger, till finally 

 three ciliated embryos, in the stages of development 

 indicated at figs. 7 and 8 in the diagram,"" swam away 

 in the water. There could no longer be any doubt 

 that my Scilly animal was a species of Pedicellina ; 

 but I had the compensation of having found, instead 

 of a new anunal, a new fact with respect to its gener- 

 ation. 



This has been narrated as an illustration of the cau- 

 tion necessary before announcing new genera and spe- 

 cies to the world, and needlessly encumbering the 

 already unrememberable lists of names. I was also 

 interested by the puzzlement into which I was thrown 

 as to the classification of my new animal (when it was 

 thought to be new). 



Indeed, the assignment of animals to their proper 

 places in systematic classification will continue to be 

 the work of much unsuccessful ingenuity, until more 

 rigorous and philosophical principles of classification 

 be adopted. That present classifications are only pro- 



* Owen : Lectures on Comparative Anatomy, p. 152. 



