PENNATULA. 193 



The native situation of the Pennatula is said to be on a muddy bot- 

 tom. Indeed, a small quantity of mud is always discharged by specimens 

 when recovered from the sea. 



Perpetuation of the species probably ensues after nearly the same 

 fashion as that of the preceding. Yellow corpuscula are generated in the 

 lobes, from March to September. After a fine specimen had been a fort- 

 night in my possession, I observed several on the 1st of April. I have 

 seen them earlier. 



Such bright yellow corpuscula appear at various intervals in the 

 distended lobes of the Pennatula, without any regular arrangement. They 

 are equally conspicuous through the flesh from behind as in front. But 

 they have been chiefly liberated by decomposition of the animal. 



This Pennatula is of difficult preservation, even for a brief period. It 

 is extremely subject to decay, then resolving into a mucous or ropy mat- 

 ter, so tenacious that a thread may be drawn out, two feet in length, with- 

 out breaking. Innumerable small spiculse are now disengaged. 



Nothing can be more diversified than the appearance of the corpus- 

 cula when liberated. At first they seem for the most part globular, 

 smooth, and solid. If in that state they have cilia, I have failed in detect- 

 ing them. Should all these corpuscula be globular originally, their figure 

 may undergo some modification while yet retained by the specimen. 



The decay of several Pennatula;, of medium size, in the middle of 

 July, exposed some reddish-orange corpuscula, whereof three globular and 

 three a little elongated, were selected and committed to watch-glasses. 



The form of all was lost by farther elongation. Some extended 

 nearly a line next day, the whole substance appearing fleshy : the anterior 

 portion, of variable shape, more or less corrugated, somewhat as a leech. 

 In other two days, they had advanced farther. Two pair of flexible or- 

 gans seemed to be seated on the anterior part, that wherein there was 

 greater motion by different curvatures. These animals evinced no pro- 

 gression on the glass, neither did they adhere ; but they could roll over. — 

 Fig 11. 



To gratify the curiosity of some learned naturalists, I exposed them 

 too early and too freely to view : consequently they perished. At this time 

 the subjects of observation amounted to nine. 



VOL. II. 2 B 



