CHAPTEE IX. 



Metamorphosis of Lepralia — Appearance of the Gemmule — 

 Budding of the Cell-spines — Development of the Polype — 

 Growth — The Three-headed Coryne — Singular Use of its 

 Disk — Beania — Coralline Light — Lime Light — Tubulipora— 

 Marine A^iviaria — The Principle explained — Elegance of Sea- 

 plants — Facilities for Study — Details of Experiments —  

 Mode of procuring the Sea- weeds — Success — Anticipations 

 — A curious Coincidence— Sponge -Crystals — Their elegant 

 Form — Immense Numbers— Mutual Entanglement — Ciliated 

 Sponge — Its crystal Coronet — Powers of Restoration. 



METAMORPHOSIS OF LEPRALIA. 



Ju7ie Wth. — I detached a minute atom of a red 

 colour swimming rapidly in gyrations in the water in 

 which were fragments of polypiferous rock. I caught 

 it with a tube and examined it. It was a globose, or 

 rather semi-elhptical body, of a soft consistence, 

 covered on its whole surface with strong bristly cilia, 

 in rapid vibration. Near the rounder end, was evi- 

 dently an orifice, with amorphous lips ; and when the 

 globule was submitted to slight pressure, just sufficient 

 to confine it, it made efforts to get away by slightly 

 lengthening itself, and drawing in the sides around 

 this mouth, which was in a manner protruded forcibly 



