TUBULARIA. 17 



on the 11th. The finest of all flourished on the 7th, and fell on the 

 15th of April. This group afforded no farther reproductions. 



Omitting various subordinate facts, the preceding abstract shows the 

 absence of all the heads on March 31st ; that six were regenerated against 

 the 9 th of April ; that two were produced in succession, on 3, c, g ; farther, 

 that the intervals of their presence and absence were irregular. 



Another, a different specimen, flourished on November 21, and the 

 head fell on December 8. It was succeeded on the 19th by one with 21 

 tentacula, which fell on the 30th, and was replaced on January 4. by a 

 head with 20 tentacula, which fell on the 11th. Another head, the fourth, 

 with 17 tentacula, had regenerated on February 4, and fell on the 8th. 

 Still a fifth head, with 21 tentacula followed on March 5, proving but 

 evanescent, for next day it had faded and fallen. 



Thus, independently of the heads preceding the first above specified, 

 which had been indispensable for raising the stem, at that time to the 

 height of five inches, other five, we see, had flourished in succession, from 

 the 21st of November until the 6th of March. 



The reproduction of six successive heads, from November to April, 

 on the tallest stalk of a fine specimen was proved in another instance, 

 though the subject had been much neglected during the interval. 



The regenerative faculty of this animal product is very great ; the 

 latent germ seems ever ready for evolution while the vigour of the stalk 

 remains. 



None of my observations have been sufficiently protracted to deter- 

 mine its utmost extent. 



But is there any vegetable product to rival it in these climates ? Any 

 one which blossoms and fructifies so often ? We admire their exuberance 

 if they flourish twice within a year. How infinitely more fertile must 

 this be deemed, if its most essential organization be renewed repeatedly 

 within a month ! Should comparison with vegetables fail, let us inquire 

 whether the lower animals afford a parallel ? I am not aware that any 

 has been hitherto named. 



The germinating powers, however, seem gradually exhausted by repro- 

 duction ; for the energies required for each evolution are feebler and 



VOL. I. c 



