186 ZOOPHYTES. 



Each organ of this remarkable object has a distinct action free of all 

 the other parts. Each lobe, each hydra, each of the pectinate tentacula, and 

 each of their prongs, can move at will, while the whole of the rest of the 

 zoophyte is quiescent. Therefore, in a specimen even shorter than that 

 before described, with the bone extending 18 inches, above a million of 

 separate fleshy parts are under the common controul of the subject. 



But how this controul is exercised, or how its effect is imparted, is 

 not easily explained. The mass of the Cristatella vaqans possesses the 

 power of effecting progression, while sustaining hundreds of independent 

 animals. The flesh of the Virgularia enjoys some peculiar power of wind- 

 ing as a spiral around the central bone, while thousands of hydrse, inde- 

 pendent so far as to testify individual action, are incorporated with it. 

 What a marvellous work of the creation ! 



This, like a vast proportion of the tenants of the deep, is a nocturnal 

 animal. All the parts attain their greatest dimensions, and testify more 

 lively action, after the light has fled. The whole remain contracted dur- 

 ing the greater part of the day, and the organs are seldom displayed be- 

 fore five or six afternoon, and towards evening. 



On removal of a specimen, when finely distended, from its own ele- 

 ment, evacuation of the contents follows, whereon such contraction and 

 alteration are concomitant, that it could not be known for the same sub- 

 ject. Its repletion is attended with equal difficulty as that of the Lobu- 

 laria. 



The fleshy part of this zoophyte seems regenerated to a certain de- 

 gree, when some circumstances indicate the termination of both extremities 

 in such prolongations. Specimens partially mutilated may be sometimes 

 preserved by retaining only the part which is entire. 



With this view a section was cut out of a specimen, thus injured be- 

 fore reaching me, which would have speedily perished. The ends were 

 sundered, the middle preserved, and suspended in a jar of water by a silk 

 thread passing loosely over the upper part. In three weeks it continued 

 healthy ; the flesh had grown over both ends, and the original hydme be- 

 longing to the section were occasionally displayed. 



Of several other sections removed in like manner from larger spe- 



