TUBULARIA. 27 



in its place for about the same period, but the shoot left by it did not ex- 

 ceed a line in length. Here the principle, the germ or bud of each, had been 

 evidently lower than the place of excision. 



Of many specimens wounded by excision, two generated monstrosi- 

 ties in a fortnight, consisting of a double neck, with a head of preternatu- 

 ral conformation. In one, the reproduction, very florid, never extended 

 three lines; the other was of similar character, PI. IV. figs. 16, 17. Both 

 stalks were slender and transparent, thence unfavourable for reproduction ; 

 nor did these reproductions subsist above three days. One aperture was 

 less, the other more than half an inch from the top of its stalk. 



Six weeks subsequent to the excision of a portion of another stalk, on 

 March 22, a distorted mass protruded, never developing completely, and 

 proving on decay, on the 16th of May, to be two papillae terminating a 

 monstrous shoot. From one of these papilla a small head, somewhat dis- 

 torted, with about 20 tentacula, burst on November 10. — PI. IV. fig. 18. 

 Being gradually rounded into shape, it subsisted five or six days : but it 

 had no successor. 



Symmetry restored. — It is no mean presumption that the works of 

 Nature have been modelled after a given plan, if we behold organic energies 

 always tending to produce that symmetry which is peculiar to the being 

 whereon they operate. From the activity of this principle, an original or 

 an accidental malformation may ultimately attain, or recover its suitable 

 figure and proportions. A very learned author, Dana, has recently shown 

 that the form of organized bodies, however complicated, depends on the 

 vital energies operating on the evolution of the constituent parts. 



An incision having penetrated the top of a florid stalk lately va- 

 cant, regeneration in three weeks exhibited a recurved florid neck covered 

 by a widely distended globular pouch. A few short distorted tentacula 

 environed the base, and the summit bore oral palpi of a similar descrip- 

 tion. This swelling organ, of variable shape according to its nature, was of 

 a beautiful red colour. Its form subsequently improved by elongation of the 

 tentacula and diminution of the sphere, but still remaining monstrous, it 

 decayed in three days. — PL II. fig. 11. 



The first head which is generated from a cleft or incision always rises 



