THE COASTS OF SICILY. 259 



has been previously digested by its parent, and its 

 five brothers or sisters. It was also here that this 

 naturalist entered upon a series of observations on 

 the development of the annelids, to which we shall 

 refer in the sequel. M. Blanchard continued his 

 researches on the nervous system of the Mollusca, 

 and the result of each day's labour seemed to reveal 

 to him some new and unexpected complications. I. in 

 my department, was fortunate in obtaining a profu- 

 sion of Nemertes and of Phlebenterous Molluscs. 

 We had therefore ample materials for work, and 

 so thoroughly did we avail ourselves of our oppor- 

 tunities, that almost the only occasions in which 

 our labours were interrupted, were when we chanced 

 to receive a visit from some one or other of the 

 islanders, who were desirous of verifying by their 

 own eyes the accuracy of the reports which had 

 been spread in reference to the marvellous powers of 

 our instruments. 



The researches on the circulation of the Mollusca 

 which M. Milne Edwards began at Favignana, and 

 continued during all the rest of our voyage, and the 

 observations which I had been led to make on the 

 same subject during my renewed investigations re- 

 lative to the Phlebenterata, gave rise to very keen 

 discussions, the report of which has even penetrated 

 beyond the precincts of our academic circles. The 

 facts under consideration touched upon such general 

 questions and militated against such long-received 

 opinions, that we could not expect they would be 

 easily accepted. M. Milne Edwards in the introduc- 

 tory remarks at the head of the exposition of his 



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