98 
Z. HYDROIDA, 
Hydra, 
** Marine species. 
5. H. ? littoralis, u ivhite ; head large ; about 10 extreme- 
ly short tentacula encircling the base”— Robert Jameson. * 
Hydra lutea ? Jameson, in Wern. Mem. i. 565— H. lutea, Flem. Brit. 
Anim. 554 — H. corynaria, Templeton, in Mag. Nat. Hist. ix. 419, fig. 58. 
Hab. Sea shore, adhering to Fuci. Frith of Forth, Professor 
Jameson. “ Found adhering to Fucus vesiculosus, at White House 
Point, Belfast Lough, Oct. 1810,” J. Templeton, Esq. 
The figure represents a branched animal with enlarged clavate 
heads encircled round the truncate apex, with tentacula rather short- 
er than the diameter.— To justify the change I have made in the 
name, it is only necessary to mention that nothing can be more cer- 
tain than that this species is not identical either with the Hydra lu- 
tea or corynaria of Bose. 
Observations. 
Leeuwenhoek-)- discovered the Hydra in 1703, and the uncommon 
way its young are produced, and an anonymous correspondent of the 
Royal Society made the same discovery in England about the same 
time, but it excited no particular notice until Trembley made known 
its wonderful properties, about the year 1744. These were so con- 
trary to all former experience, and so repugnant to every established 
notion of animal life, that the scientific world were amazed ; and while 
the more cautious among naturalists set themselves to verify what it 
was difficult to believe, there were many who looked upon the al- 
leged facts as impossible fancies. The discoveries of Trembley were, 
however, speedily confirmed ; and we are now so familiar with the 
outlines of the history of the fresh- water polype, and its marvellous 
reproductive powers, that we can scarcely appreciate the vividness of 
the sensation felt when it was all novel and strange ; when the lead- 
ing men of our learned societies were daily experimenting on these 
poor worms, and transmitting them to one another from distant coun- 
tries, by careful posts, and as most precious gifts ; and when even 
ambassadors interested themselves in sending early intelligence of the 
engrossing theme to their respective courts. 
* The name affixed to the specific character is that of the person who, so 
far as I have been able to ascertain the point, added the species to the British 
Fauna.— Mr Jameson is the present Regius Professor of Natural History in the 
University of Edinburgh. 
+ “ Antonius v. Leeuwenhoek, civis Delphensis, peritus vitrorum politor, 
curiosus, et ad paradoxas opiniones pronus.” Haller, Bib. Bot. i. 583. He 
was born 1632 ; elected F. R. S. January 1680 ; and died in 1723. 
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