230 AMPHITEITE. 



Thus naturalists in general have, perhaps, overlooked the real an- 

 tennulge, while distinguishing as such, either those exterior branchiae 

 which had lost their fringe, or which were different from the rest. 



Perhaps the violence employed to displace the tube from its origi- 

 nal foundation at the bottom of the sea, may induce the occupant's pre- 

 cipitate retreat within ; and when returning to the orifice after divulsion, 

 its head is so much entangled with extraneous matter that separation 

 ensues. 



But it may be subject also to natural mutilation. The fans of a 

 specimen that had been two months under observation, were overlapping 

 in the end of January ; and, next morning, the whole plume, detached, 

 was found inanimate in the vessel. For some days the vacant stump 

 protruded occasionally ; but afterwards the orifice remained close, or 

 sometimes only a small aperture opened. In three weeks, exposure to 

 the sunshine induced the animal to rise, shewing the progress of repro- 

 duction, which advanced so rapidly in other twenty days, that the vari- 

 ous organs were employed in augmenting its dwelling. In another week 

 the funnel, composed of about thirty-six branchijB, was complete, both 

 sides of the rib being fringed. It was afterwards constantly displayed 

 with the natural recurvature, and in six weeks from the date of mutila- 

 tion, it had acquired half its natural length, originally about an inch. 

 A subsequent rent in the tube probably surpassed the creature's ability 

 to repair ; it languished and died in April. 



Naturalists should beware of hastily abandoning specimens because 

 they are mutilated. 



The posterior extremity of the Amphitrite is much more tenacious 

 of life than the anterior. Its motion continues long after that of the rest 

 has ceased, and the whole animal may be literally said to die down- 

 wards. 



The unequal distribution of vitality throughout the different parts 

 of the organic system merits greater attention than it has received. 



A powerful reproductive principle resides in this animal, whereby the 

 functions essential to life may be carried on by new evolutions ; nor is it 

 evidently confined to any part of the body. The plume of a small speci- 



