‘ Bibliographical Notices. 391 
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 
Rare and Remarkable Animals of Scotland, represented from living 
Subjects ; with Practical Observations on their Nature. By Sir 
Joun Grauam Datye.t, Bart. Volume second, containing fifty- 
six coloured Plates. London: John Van Voorst, 1848. 4to. 
We have to apologize to our readers for our dilatoriness in intro- 
ducing to their notice this second volume of a very remarkable work, 
whose speedy appearance we hail with much pleasure. The volume 
is equal to the first in its bulk and fair proportions, but scarcely 
equal in the interest and marvellousness of its histories ; and indeed 
the author has been anticipated, if we mistake not, in the publication 
of his most curious discoveries, although certainly not in the finding 
of them. He has been long in the possession of a knowledge of cer- 
tain phenomena touching the lives of these inferiur animals, which, 
subsequently ascertained by younger investigators less patient of 
their gestation, got speedy air and publicity ; and hence discoveries 
which are original in themselves and of singular interest, appear as 
second-hand and wanting in effect on their now publication. In 
illustration and proof of this we may instance the discovery of the me- 
tamorphosis of the compound and solitary Tunicata—their oviparous 
_ character—the tadpole similitude of their larvee—their locomotive 
power and subsequent fixation-—the diffluence of each larva on the 
foreign object to be its future residence—and its gradual mutation 
to the parent form. This discovery is here fully explained and illus- 
trated from personal observation, and we know that it has been long 
the author’s own; but naturalists have-become familiar with it, not 
through his works, but through the popular writings of Milne- 
Edwards, translated and transferred into every work compiled to 
meet the demand for elementary books on zoology. 
The first chapter treats of ‘ Foliaceous Zoophytes,” or Flustre. 
At the very outset Sir John tells us that each polype, in the multi- 
tudinous polypidom, lives ‘solely for itself, independent of the life, 
the death, and the circumstances of its nearest neighbour. Among 
the multitudes restricted to limited space, we discover no reciprocal 
bond or connexion, nor any common channel of communication be- 
tween them; neither any internal pith or medullary substance per- 
vading the polyparium.” (p. 1.) But subsequently he arrives at the 
sounder conclusion that, though no connexion or communication 
between the cells of the Flustra can be discovered, ‘‘ there is a 
Strong presumption of some imperceptible channel or medium 
traversing the leaf, whereby portions with new hydre are generated 
from the older parts.” (p. 13.) The polypidom holding in its en- 
tirety myriads of individuals begins always with one only cell; and 
this, to secure a broader foundation for the future colony, is always 
horizontal, while those which pullulate from it are, and must neces- 
sarily be, vertical. The original dies and consolidates, and so do 
its immediate successors, after producing others above them, which 
are ejected from their living progenitors in regulated ordination, 
