THE COASTS OF SICILY. 217 



manner that the latter animal lives solely upon the 

 remains of the food swallowed by the former. 

 During this period of its existence the newly formed 

 Syllis betrays by its movements that it enjoys an 

 independent life and will ; for I have often been able 

 to detect a struggle between the two, each wishing 

 to go its own way. In these cases, the one which 

 had sprouted like a bud from the primary stock was 

 almost always vanquished, and finally compelled to 

 follow its parent, although on this younger animal 

 alone depend the preservation and continuance of 

 the species. After the lapse of a certain time, it 

 might be observed to become filled so rapidly with 

 ova that the diameter of its body was almost doubled, 

 whilst not a single egg could be detected in the 

 interior of the body of the primary animal. 



When the eggs have attained a certain degree of 

 development, the division is completely effected, and 

 the new Syllis finally enjoys its liberty. Soon, 

 however, the eggs increase so much that they rup- 

 ture the body, and the animal dies; while the 

 germs which were contained within it escape, and 

 are diffused in all directions. All these phenomena 

 are accomplished precisely in the same manner 

 in the males. They also produce buds, which be- 

 come developed into perfect animals ; but here the 

 individuals of the secondary formation contain, in 

 the place of eggs, that mysterious liquid, whose 

 contact, like the torch of Prometheus, seems to 

 awaken life. Like their sisters, they live only a 

 few days, and perish in fulfilling the task assigned 

 to them by nature. This, I believe, is the first 



