FURTHER RESEARCHES 17 



The unsatisfactory attitude of the Admiralty, and un- 

 certainty as to prospects in general, stimulated rather 

 than diminished the output of scientific work at this time. 

 The memoir on Medusse (which gained him the F.R.S.), 

 and the account of Trigonia, were published during the 

 cruise of the Rattlesnake. By the end of 1 85 1 the papers 

 mentioned in the last chapter were completed, and also 

 the following : — 



1. "Report upon the Researches of Prof. Miiller into 

 the Anatomy and Development of the Echinoderms" 

 (Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 2, viii, 1851, pp. I-19. 

 Sci. Mem., i, xm, p. 103). — After summarizing seven 

 memoirs written by Miiller (1846-51), Huxley en- 

 deavours to show that the animals under discussion 

 (star-fishes, sea-urchins, etc.) furnish an illustration of 

 " alternation of generations," and discussed the meaning 

 to be attached in zoology to the. term " individual," 

 defining it as " the total result of the development of 

 a single ovum, whether this total result consist of one 

 or many independent existences." Here, as in so many 

 other instances, his strong interest in the philosophical 

 side of natural history is shown in a striking manner. 



2. " On Lacinularia socialis, a Contribution to the 

 Anatomy and Physiology of the Rotifera" (Trans. 

 Micros. Soc. London, New Ser., i, 1853, pp. 1-19. 

 Read Dec. 31, 185 1. Sci. Mem., i, xv, p. 126). 

 This memoir gives an exhaustive account of a wheel- 

 animalcule common in the Medway, and compares 

 it with other members of the group, the affinities of 

 which are discussed. That the Rotifera must be re- 

 moved from the Radiata is clearly proved, but the view 

 that they should be closely associated with Echinoderms, 

 was subsequently modified. To this day the real affinities 

 of wheel-animalcules remain a matter of doubt. 



