240 METAMORPHOSES OF MAX 



the Annelids, each segment throughout almost the 

 entire body, has its own nervous centre, its own loco- 

 motive apparatus, its vascular system, digestive cavity, 

 and reproductive organs, just like that which follows 

 and precedes it. It would require but one step farther 

 for each ring to carry on its own existence inde- 

 pendently ; indeed, it only wants a mouth and organs 

 of special sense in order to do so. In Syllis myrianis 

 and Nais, the mouth and organs of sense do really 

 present themselves, in a special segment, it is true, 

 but one which is formed just like the others.* All 

 the organs placed posteriorly to this abnormal head, 

 are placed under its control. A new individuality is 

 developed, and originates in a series of phenomena 

 differing in no particular from those of ordinary 

 growth, as observed throughout the whole class. 



There is evidently no fundamental distinction 

 between the phenomena just referred to, and those of 

 gemmation in the Hydra in the Strobila, as observed 

 by Desors, and of segmentation of the same animal, 

 as described by Saars. The form alone of the animals, 

 and the laws which regulate their individual growth, 

 are quite sufficient to explain the apparent differences. 

 Thus, the phenomenon of mammalian growth, and that 

 of the most decided gemmation, pass, by insensible 

 gradations, the one into the other; and all observation 

 forces on us this one conclusion, that gemmation, and 

 consequently agamic reproduction, are fundamentally 

 but processes of growth. 



* Vide M. Edwards' fine memoir on the embryology of the An- 

 nulosa in the " Annales des Sciences naturelles," 1845 ; and also 

 my own memoir, " Sur la Generation alternante des Syllis," in 

 the "Annales des Sciences naturelles" for 1854. 



