126 ZOOPHYTES. 



were obliterated in two days, as seen by fig. 3. Tlien a different row of 

 tentacula was advancing from the higher circumference or disc of the bulb, 

 and four spurs afterwards disappearing were issuing from the base. Now, 

 a hydra was forming of the bulb, whose long silky tentacula were waving 

 in 25 days amidst the water, fig. 12. After other three weeks, the indi- 

 cations of progeny, shown fig. 13, were realized by the representation, 

 fig. 14, of the perfect hydra with its offspring, as seen 53 days subsequent 

 to the delineation of fig. 2. The progress of this subject was somewhat 

 retarded by an accident. But in 121 days from that delineation, fig. 2, 

 it had become fine, when its vessel was unluckily broke during the night, 

 and the contents lost. 



The changes and the multiplication of others proved alike evident 

 and decisive. Thus the subject, Plate XX. fig. 15, so prominently distin- 

 guished there, after passing through the changes of 16, 17, and 18, became 

 with its progeny as represented fig. 19, in 48 days. Following its course, 

 first, it is seen as an enlarging waved rouleau, with a circle of above 20 

 tentacula at the extremity. This roll is sustained by a bulb with a circu- 

 lar row of shorter tentacula, d. An embryo, e, is germinating from the 

 bulb. In a week, the farther or exterior row of longer tentacula has 

 disappeared, and the inner or shorter row is extending, fig. 16, c. In an- 

 other week, all the Medusae composing the rouleau have escaped ; the 

 hydra, originally a smooth fleshy bulb, and its germinating progeny were 

 advancing, fig. 17. The changes were great with the lapse of 15 days 

 more. Now the progeny amounted to four, one of the number, a bud with 

 developing tentacula ; other two have withdrawn ; the fourth, very minute, 

 has sprung of some of the family, fig. 18. In 48 days the whole appear 

 as in fig. 19. The parent became ultimately the finest of all the hydrae 

 which had been simple bulbs sustaining Medusae. It fed voraciously, and 

 about three months after the whole Medusae had been liberated it gorged 

 itself to such excess, that the adhesion was lost, as I presume, from dis- 

 tension ; thence it fell down and perished. 



Amidst numerous examples which I have had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing, I shall give only one additional illustration corroborative of the 

 general facts. 



