VIRGULARIA. 187 



ciraens, one exhibited an ample reproduction in three weeks, consisting of 

 about an inch of flesh generated beyond the lower extremity of the bone, 

 which augmented considerably in three weeks more. The prolongation of 

 a third was less. These new parts were of paler colour ; they shewed 

 spontaneous distension; the flesh curving nearly at right angles to the 

 bone. The hydras were often finely displayed. 



This bone is never reproduced. 



A specimen once occurred with a double central bone extending 

 about two inches, but terminating abruptly, fig. 8. The bones were unequal, 

 a longer and a shorter, the longer extending so regularly, that the shorter 

 might have been almost considered a fragment accidentally or supernatu- 

 rally introduced along with it amidst the fleshy substance. 



When wounded, a whitish matter exudes from the injured parts. 



A musky odour, not unpleasant, is emitted by the Virgularia. 



Perpetuation. — Yellow corpuscula are visible within the distended 

 lobes of the Virgularia, some in motion, others at rest. Their inaccessibi- 

 lity to the microscope precludes accurate determination of their form, for 

 they are indistinctly seen, as in fig. 7. Some minute animalcula are like- 

 wise perceptible traversing the contents, or revolving on an axis. Besides 

 these, other substances, which might be thought large yellow ova, are im- 

 bedded in the flesh, but too much obscured by the thickness of the parts 

 to afford a clear and satisfactory view, fig. 9. 



About twenty specimens of this zoophyte having been obtained in the 

 middle of May, very minute yellow ova were discharged from them at the 

 bottom of a tall cylindrical jar, therefore inaccessible to microscopical ob- 

 servation. But some specimens having been laid horizontally above watch- 

 glasses in a wide shallow vessel, enabled me to secure several corpuscula 

 there, on escaping from the fragments. All appeared yellow, opaque, solid, 

 and consistent, some almost spherical, others as if losing their regular 

 shape, fig. 10. Several corpuscula, much more minute than those repre- 

 sented, were intermingled with the rest. 



When thus produced externally, it is probably from as many embryos 

 having burst a delicate integument investing them. 



It is very remarkable, however, that the propagation of the Asteroidal 



