196 METAMORPHOSES OF MAN 



less associated, at least in certain cases, with the 

 class of phenomena under discussion ; but occasionally 

 they have only very distant or accidental relations 

 with reproduction, and we shall, therefore, confine 

 ourselves to pointing them out. 



We reserved our comments on the history of Eclii- 

 noderms for the last, although this class, which com- 

 prises the Holothurice, the Sea-urchins, and Star-fish, 

 should be properly ranked at the head of the true 

 Radiata.* We have not done so without a reason. 

 Some naturalists deny that there is any fundamental 

 analogy between the phenomena presented by these 

 animals and those whose history we have just been 

 sketching. Others have expressed doubts on the 

 same subject. Whoever has thoroughly understood 

 what we have endeavoured to convey by the term 

 geneagenesis, — whoever will admit, with us, that the 

 fundamental character of this mode of generation is 

 the production of several distinct individuals by the 

 aid of a single primitive germ, will not have a 

 moment's hesitation; but he will at the same time 

 understand that the exeeptional nature of the de- 

 velopment of Echinoderms is due to the combination 

 of the phenomena of geneagenesis with those of 

 simple metamorphosis. 



The curious phenomena we have indicated have 

 been seen by several observers only of late years. 

 In 1844 Saars — whom we always find at the head 



resulting from the imperfection of our instruments, and caused by 

 the intimate approximation which takes place at the moment of 

 the reciprocal fecundations of adult individuals. 



* The zoologist will perceive what an artificial arrangement the 

 above would be : the star-fish and hydra are as little akin as man 

 and the ovster. — Tr. 



