AMPHITRITE. 227 



Soon afterwards, however, the regularity of the funnel became im- 

 paired. The animal projected considerably from the tube ; some bristles 

 of the pencils were lost, when it began to consume at the segments, and 

 after six or seven inches of the body hung from the orifice, it was kept 

 no longer. 



This mutilated specimen survived six weeks under observation, the 

 reproductive process meantime advancing incessantly. The tube had re- 

 ceived some accessions, but the orifice was much contracted. As the cut 

 shortening the tube had been oblique, this inequality may have occa- 

 sioned aberration of the parts. 



Among a number of specimens obtained in April 1828, several tubes, 

 as well as their tenants, were injured. One of the latter had lost the 

 entire plume, that of another being ragged, I cut half an inch off it to 

 preserve the remainder, and shortened the tube. In five days the lower 

 extremity adhered, and the orifice above was brought to a proper direc- 

 tion by means of a silken loop passing over it. Renovating ribs prolonged 

 the mutilated parts in nine days ; and on the water being rendered turbid, 

 the animal rose to fabricate an addition to its dwelling. Five weeks 

 after mutilation, when the ribs were almost completely fringed, it dis- 

 played the plume during the day, and also at night. Though seemingly 

 tranquil and inactive, muddy accumulations in the funnel, besides their 

 preparations in paste, shewed its industry. Nature makes infinite use, 

 both physical and mechanical, of the cilia, whose motion now resembles 

 the successive inflexion of the teeth of a comb, while the finger passes over 

 them. On the llth of July, the ribs were fringed throughout, and the 

 animal, uncommonly bold and vigorous, afforded the most satisfactory 

 view of the organs engaged on its tube. Plate XXX. fig. 4, representing 

 the plume in an early stage. 



The economy of Nature, in the precise order of all her provisions, is 

 too remarkable to escape observation. Here the regeneration of the rib 

 precedes the evolution of the cilia. Advancing more rapidly than they 

 do, it is preparing for the gradual accession of a complete fringe, whose 

 mechanical functions are of such importance to the living being. Vi- 

 viani, an Italian naturalist, conjectures that the rib is tubular, a fact to 



