TUBULARIA. 61 



figs. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, and Plate IX. fig. 1, 2. The planulse from the 

 vesicles are seen Plate VIII. fig. 7, and Plate IX. figs. 3, 12 ; the com- 

 mencement of their metamorphosis Plate VIII. fig. 8, Plate IX. fig. 1 3, 

 and the progress of the nascent Tubularia from an early stage to perfec- 

 tion, Plate IX. figs. 5, 6 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and Plate VIII. 

 fig. 9. 



A monstrous hydra crowned the stem of a specimen bred from a pla- 

 nula, Plate IX. fig. 10 ; and two stems, a, b, issued from the same root of 

 another, fig. 11 — three roots from fig. 14 — five from fig. 15. 



Clusters of corpuscula of uncertain nature are seen, though rarely, at 

 the summit of such stalks as have borne hydrse. They bear some resem- 

 blance to a compound vesicle, consisting of a spherule, sustained on a pedi- 

 ment. From 10 to 20 compose the cluster. — Plate VIII. fig. 10. 



The various aspects under which almost all zoophytes occur occasion 

 great embarrassment to the observer. There is scarcely any naturalist who 

 fails to assign a series of whirls, or whorls, to different parts of the stalk of 

 these Tubularise, as I conclude. Yet there are many of those now de- 

 scribed wherein no such feature can be recognized. The stalk or twig 

 remains smooth and even — quite plain from its origin up to the head. 

 Others exhibit 8, 12, or 16 whirls, like prominent annulations ; but they 

 are frequently very faint and indistinct : nor have I ever seen the deep in- 

 dentations, like a coil of ropes, represented by authors. A specimen, very 

 old, though not taller than two inches, bearing hydrse, had none. Probably 

 whirls of the neck are exposed through a transparent membrane in their 

 early growth, while they may be subsequently disguised or at last oblite- 

 rated by supervening age and opacity. Naturalists are very prone to re- 

 present microscopical objects or those, simply viewed by a lens, with 

 features infinitely stronger and more definite than the truth. But many 

 allowances must be made for the difficulty of obtaining the finest specimens, 

 or a suitable view of them, and, above, all a competent artist. No one 

 but he who would practically study the science for a protracted series of 

 time, and wishes the world to profit by his labours, can appreciate the em- 

 barrassments opposing his representation of the identical subjectand its parts. 

 The Tubularia ramea grows either as a very bushy shrub, upright, 



