BOTRYLLUS STELLARIS. 



45 



in some species small individuals may be observed ad- 

 herent to the interior of large ones, by a peculiar kind 

 of sucker, and these are of a different form from that 

 of the animals containing them." Should future ob- 

 servations confirm the correctness of Chamisso's state- 

 ment, the physiologist will then have one of the most 

 extraordinary phenomena connected with organic exist- 

 ence to contemplate, which the whole range of nature 

 presents. 



The aggregate tunicata have already been mentioned 

 — creatures, which, like the zoophytes, form, by an 

 organic union, one common whole. Cuvier divides these 

 into three groups, botryllus (or alcyonium), polycli- 

 nium, and pyrosoma. 



The hotrylli form little starlike bunches or tufts. 



w'k% r 



Botryllus stellaris; a, natural size; h, a single group magnified. 



attached to sea-weed or other marine substances, each 



