222 ZOOPHYTES. 



of no less than sixty small greenish young immediately followed ; and in 

 two months, another litter of forty-three, also green, augmented the num- 

 ber, — nor was the animal's fertility yet exhausted. 



In three years and nine months this monstrous subject had attained 

 ample dimensions. — Plate XL VII. fig. 8. But when about six years old, 

 the vessel containing it having been too much replenished, one of the 

 bodies rose over the edge ; the connecting flesh was twisted, and as had 

 been often threatened previously, it now rent asunder. 



Each body being preserved as an independent animal, both adhered 

 again by their respective bases to the vessel, but declined much in size. 

 Nine months later they were washed over from the injudicious replenish- 

 ment of the vessel, and one was lost. The other preserved never became 

 large and vigorous ; however it continued breeding. Its latest progeny 

 appeared when it was seven years old, the young being still pale-green. 

 The whole offspring of this monstrous specimen was nearly of the same 

 hue. 



Numerous corpuscula or gemmules are lodged in the tentacula of 

 this species or variety with white tubercles, such as seen in the Actinia 

 mesembn/anthemum. Twenty could be enumerated in a single tentaculum. 

 I did not neglect endeavouring to ascertain their nature, with the view of 

 farther illustrations. 



While endeavouring to sunder a tentaculum of the specimen, 

 Plate XLVI. fig. 1, three were accidentally severed, which soon discharged 

 twelve or fifteen corpuscula, of great disparity in size and conformation : 

 all opaque and solid, tended to irregular rotundity. One might be the 

 fifth of a line, or the sixtieth part of an inch in diameter, and some qua- 

 druple the size of others. It is impossible to convey a correct impression of 

 the shape, motion, or peculiarities of these creatures by description. Some 

 were cubical, or of cushion form, with very obtuse angles, others enlarged 

 by encircling protuberances, Plate XLVI. fig. 9. Two were still more 

 remarkable, unlike any that I had ever seen. A short cylinder, resembling 

 a funnel, projected from each, fig. 10. One of them continued revolving 

 horizontally while the funnel was downward, the other tumbled over fre- 

 quently in the water. Their motion was moderate, and although all such 



