93 
s "ccess ; it seem probable therefore, that they are but 
"Parinsly developed. The form of these organs is tirn- 
s |'aped, with short tubnlar orifices superiorly, which are 
Placed a little on one side ; inferiorly they contract into short 
and bent peduncles, which from their calcareous structure 
•"“st necessarily be very brittle. 
. In some of the Sea Mats, the reproduction is also effected 
'y what may bo called ovarian vesicles. In the Flustra 
mbranacea for instance at certain seasons of the year, long 
,tle nihranous sacs are seen protruding from the cells; they 
ar , e of a yellow colour semi-transparent, and filled with 
P'inute yellow granules which appear to be uva. They grow 
r °ra the side of the cells; at first they are so small as to 
['■'Use no apparent inconvenience to the polype; but as it 
'I'ni’eases in size the polype suffers considerably, and finally 
?‘ es - The sac then occupies the whole of the cell. It is not 
V} every cell that they are developed, for they are irregularly 
I Iributed over the whole polypidom. From the minute and 
^I'cale nature of the polypes it is impossible, with our 
Resent means, to discover whether their formation depends 
j* 1 a ny peculiarity in the polype itself, or is the result of 
c cidental causes. From the irregularity of the develope- 
e nt, however, it seems to he governed by no law. Some 
f U1 '*orities doubt that this is the true function of the sacs, but 
r °m what I have observed I have but little doubt on the 
' hll ject. 
f In Tubularia and the kindred genera, the gemmnles are 
^ r nied interiorly, and may occasionally be seen escaping in 
ff slla >e of minute ciliated grains, which move about freely 
q 0, n spot to spot, but shortly become fixed rooted and assume 
s adult specific forms. Ttiis mode of reproduction, ob- 
c r * e <l so extensively among Zoophytes, is among the most 
t | lrio Us in nature. In the first place we observe minute grains 
with cilia which are in constant action, and by which 
move freely about with all the irregularity of voluntary 
v in the next they become rooted and grow into 
Df r '°»s arborescent forms, endowed with unequivocal marks 
j, anim a i life; changes which even the wildness of imagi- 
' 0n would hardly have conceived. But if we turn to any 
^Pariment of nature, we shall be surprised at the inex- 
plicable gradations of form and diversity of phenomena; 
thp llleir almost miraculous termination in results and forms, 
e a . v ?ry best that could have been devised for the situation 
orn 1 ' s destined to occupy in the scale of being. However 
s elv 0>lr int ellects may be, these things will force them- 
0p' es °n our attention ; and to the naturalist, they form 
°l tiie chief sources of his pleasures. 
M 
