



XXIV. Besearches on the Structure, Physiology, and Bemlopment o/" An tedon (Coma- 

 tula, Lamk.) rosaccus. — Part I. By William B. Carpenter, M.D., F.B.S. 



Kcceived June 15, — Eead Juno 15, 18G5. 



Page. 



I. Introduction 671 



II. Historical Summary 673 



III. External Characters, and Habits : Synonymy 692 



IV. Structure of tlie Skeleton, with its Ligaments and Muscles 702 



Y. Development of the Skeleton 72G 



I.— INTRODrCTION. 



That the only secure basis of Zoological Science is afforded by a thorough elucidation 

 of the structure and life-history of typical forms representing particular subdivisions of 

 the Animal Kingdom, will not, I anticipate, be disputed by any Naturalist of the present 

 day. And every one who is even slightly acquainted with the history of that Science 

 must be well aware that the standard Monographs which have been devoted to this 

 object have exerted a more permanent influence on its progress, than have any of those 

 comprehensive Systems which have been set up from time to time, and, after lasting for 

 a while, have been overthrown to make way for others scarcely more durable. For any 

 System of Classification is liable to be invalidated by new discovery ; and the utmost 

 which can be claimed for it is, that it accurately represents the state of knowledge at 

 the time of its promulgation. But every Monograph which contains a faithful descrip- 

 tion of the structure and life-history of any type whatever, however far it may be from 

 absolute completeness, presents a body of facts which subsequent research may add to 

 but cannot set aside ; and may come to acquire, even at a long subsequent period, a 

 value not anticipated by its author. 



I cannot suppose, therefore, that any apology is needed for my offering to the Eoyal 

 Society a detailed account of perhaps the most interesting of our British Echinoderms ; 

 of which the structure, notwithstanding the attention given to it by various eminent 

 Anatomists, has been hitherto but very imperfectly made out ; whilst of its life-history 

 still less is known. That I have solved every problem which its study has presented, is 

 far more than I can affirm ; but I venture to think that what I now bring forward will 

 stand the test of future scrutiny ; and that the results I have attained will prove of im- 

 portance, not merely in leading to a better understanding of the important group of 

 which Antedon is a representative, but also in helping to the solution of certain funda- 

 mental questions in Gicncral Physiology. 



MDtCCLWI. 4 z 



