New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-10-25

only the lower divisions, formed in the manner !
have described, which constitute new individuals.
More extraordinary phenomena are observed IN
another type Of the meduss similar 20 these. In a
species little known and not observed that | know
Of on the American shores Of the Atlantic, We find
a compound animAl-.several individual being AZ
tached 70 one another and swimming freely in the
water. They have all the general arrangements Of
the meduse They have been described by NJ
merOus naturasts, and two varieties OF them have
been noticed. Chamisso, the Prussisn naturalist
remarked that one variety Of these combined ami
mails had always isolated eggs, while the other had
eggs ia lunches. He induced 70 admit that
these ten types were OF the same species. being
only different stages OF the same being. This was
regarded rs rather inadmissibe, until lstey Ger
naturalist named krohn. In the course Of inyes
legations the coast Of Sicily ascertained distinct
y that the fact, and that in one and the same
species there is set OF isolated individuals having
eggs which never separate and form individual
groups OF animals, while each individual Of these
punches lays isolated eggs, which form free uncon-
nected individuals. So then We have successive
generations which do not resemble each other and
In which the grand parents similar to the grand
children. bat the intermediate generation never ike
that which precedes or follows 1t. We have in
mankind something 10 remind US OF this Curious
phenomena We find family llkenesses, as they
are called. 20 through two generations emitting the
intermediate. Certainly that is a corresponding
fact 20 this
These phenomena 1t is somewhat diicu. 10
trace, as ii is necessary 70 follow for long while
the same individual, but they have been sscer.
tanned beyond doubt, ind especially through the
care OF the Swedish naturalist, Sars 1t is sngu.
lar, may here remark, that a gentleman should
be found in a country poor in Interesting natural
phenomena ready TO devote himself 10 the minute
investigation OF these phenomena and succeed in
so eminent degree In some other portions Of
EUROPE, on the contrary where the facilities Of
prosecuting such Investigations are very remarka-
BILE, comparatively little advance mas been made in
natural science.
The next class Of which | shall speak is the
EohlnOdergqaf0.
The internal structure Of this class is more com.
plicated than that Of the preceding though 1t fol
lows the same plan. We have here also the Or
gans arranged as rays round the central cavity.
This central cavity contains numerous dspenden,
organs. While We bad IN pOyps and meduse the
function Of digestion and respiration produced BY
one and the cavity branching within the re-
cess Of the body in this class we have an aimen-
tary cavity forming stomach and extending some
times IN several Recommendations through the body
and the respiratory function performed by ndepen-
dent appendages. The fluid is set in motion by
organs independent always OF the alimentary canal
Ms well as respiratory organs, though all IN connec
tiOn, and in connection similar to what obtains
among the meduse.
Many of the facts which shall add now were
uot fully ascertaned until lately. But recently !
had an opportunity of studying the internal struc-
ture of this class while on board avesse employed
in the coast survey have thus been enabled To
observe more attentively the star fishes and dis
cover how intimately allied they are u the meduse
and polyps | may here be permitted 10 remark
that, notwithstanding the rough material which
is at hand on the shores Of the Atlantic Tor the
study of the whole of the types of radlated
animals there is no work existing on the po
lypI OF the American coast there Is no work
in which you can find even r dry catalogue
OF this species Though so many beautiful
works on the Natural History of this country, and
especially OF this State have been produced 1t is
somewhat surprising that there is no record what
ever of the radIated animals There is no work on
the medusg. These three classes OF radiata afford
an ample field OF investigation, and one which will
fully compensate the labor bestowed upon It. Ii is
due 10 the cause OF truth and science that the pub
lie teacher should not only ascertain what is known
but also what is TO be done and here great deal
is to be done, this group having been much more
neglected than others OF the animal kingdom
(Applausel
external covering OF the echpodermata Ii will
scarcely appear credible that these two specimens
are formed of the same hard plates arranged IN
the same manner, only of different proportions so
that one presents spherelike and the other star
like appearance. But II in the case the plates
were a little elastic it would be easy TO change the
rice rers0. After have shown the structure OF one
OF these animals trust that this statement will
not be regarded as at all exaggerated
You see two openings in such an animal-an up
per and a lower-not always opposite each other
| shall begin with the simplest class. before sP-
preaching the other Around this single opening
i've large plates are placed 80 as to leave space
between them, and FIVE smaller plates occupy the
interstices In each OF these large plates there Is
hole Through these five holes hve tubes open
Through these The eggs escape The plates OF me
body are arranged in series oil very different
kinds Alternately We have series OF plates per-
forated and a series of plates imperforated. Upon
those plates without holes we have large tuberces
upon which the tentscles or spines are movable.
These form as IL were ten vertical rlbs from each oil
the openings to the other. Through the holes OF
one Of the series little tentacles protrude, having
an opening in the end, and which can be retracted
aud pushed out 50 as to disappear OF extend even
beyond the points of the spines and by these
tentaces the animal can move well as by the
motion of the spines These plates, which are i'm
perforated. Just opposite 10 the large plates
These, which perforated. are Intermediate
They all meet at the lower end, where there Is
another large opening. and this lower opening is
the mouth.
The spines movable and it IS their motion
which enables the animal 70 walk from place TO
place In some, the pOwerOi ocomotion resides IN
the minute tentacles In the plates.
The food is introduced through the NOUN, anu
is crushed between very powerful plates. You find
the Jaw very complicated The complication is so
great that 1t would require fall hour to explain
~ erely the structure OF this part of the animal
There is scarcely any portion OF the organization
OF the animal creation more complex than the jaw
of these animals Ii is formed Of almost innumer.
able hard plates furnished with hard teeth moved
by very distinct muscles, and put IN action by
a complicated nervous system. | Will mention
merely that these Jaws are i've IN number
and are arranged In such manner as to cor
respond with these ten series OF plates. One
Jaw is always before an imperiorated plate. These
avs are 50 powerful that they can crush shell
fishes and the hardest bodies. The intestinal tube
is a wide tube provided with several appendsges,
SO as to make 1t more complicated than ID any OF
the other radisted animals
But what is more singular IN these animals Is the
existence of heart and actual respiratory organs
These tubes which can be proiruded through these
small, holes terminate by hole, and inside OF the
shell there is in each Of these tubes considerable
yesice which is filed with water. upon which there
is a number OF blood vessels. But here these tubes
can be shut and there is another apparatus Tor m
iectiug these vescles in the tube. | should have
r. 49, a. fFor