Seaside Studies in Natural History / Marine Animals of Massachusetts Bay. Radiates
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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Seaside Studies in Natural History, by

Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz and Alexander Agassiz

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Title: Seaside Studies in Natural History

Marine Animals of Massachusetts Bay. Radiates.

Author: Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz

Alexander Agassiz

Release Date: March 5, 2011 [EBook #35490]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEASIDE STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY ***

Produced by Bryan Ness, Tom Cosmas and the Online

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SEASIDE STUDIES

IN

NATURAL HISTORY.

 

BY

ELIZABETH C. AGASSIZ

AND

ALEXANDER AGASSIZ.

 

MARINE ANIMALS OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

RADIATES.

 

 

 

BOSTON:

JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,

Late Ticknor Fields, and Fields, Osgood, Co.

1871.

 

 

 

 

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by

A L E X A N D E R   A G A S S I Z,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court

for the District of Massachusetts.

 

 

University Press:

Welch, Bigelow, and Company,

Cambridge.

 

 

 

 

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHORS TO

PROFESSOR L. AGASSIZ,

WHOSE PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIFICATION HAVE BEEN THE MAIN GUIDE IN ITS PREPARATION.

 

 

 

 

PREFACE.

This volume is published with the hope of supplying a want often expressed for some seaside book of a popular character, describing the marine animals common to our shores. There are many English books of this kind; but they relate chiefly to the animals of Great Britain, and can only have a general bearing on those of our own coast, which are for the most part specifically different from their European relatives. While keeping this object in view, an attempt has also been made to present the facts in such a connection, with reference to principles of science and to classification, as will give it in some sort the character of a manual of Natural History, in the hope of making it useful not only to the general reader, but also to teachers and to persons desirous of obtaining a more intimate knowledge of the subjects discussed in it. With this purpose, although nearly all the illustrations are taken from among the most common inhabitants of our bay, a few have been added from other localities in order to fill out this little sketch of Radiates, and render it, as far as is possible within such limits, a complete picture of the type.

A few words of explanation are necessary with reference to the joint authorship of the book. The drawings and the investigations, where they are not referred to other observers, have been made by Mr. A. Agassiz, the illustrations having been taken, with very few exceptions, from nature, in order to represent the animals, as far as possible, in their natural attitudes; and the text has been written by Mrs. L. Agassiz, with the assistance of Mr. A. Agassiz's notes and explanations.

Cambridge, May, 1865.

 


NOTE.

This second edition is a mere reprint of the first. A few mistakes accidentally overlooked have been corrected; an explanation of the abbreviations of the names of writers used after the scientific names has been added, as well as a list of the wood-cuts. The changes which have taken place in the opinions of scientific men with regard to the distribution of animal life in the ocean have been duly noticed in their appropriate place, but no attempt has been made to incorporate more important additions which the progress of our knowledge of Radiates may require hereafter.

Cambridge, January, 1871.

 

 

CONTENTS.

  

Page

On Radiates in General

1

General Sketch of the Polyps

5

Actinoids

7

Madreporians

16

Halcyonoids

19

General Sketch of Acalephs

21

Ctenophoræ

26

Embryology of Ctenophoræ

34

Discophoræ

37

Hydroids

49

Mode of Catching Jelly-Fishes

85

Echinoderms

91

Holothurians

95

Echinoids

101

Star-Fishes

108

Ophiurans

115

Crinoids

120

Embryology of Echinoderms

123

Distribution of Life in the Ocean

141

Systematic Table

152

Index

154

 

 

LIST OF THE WOOD-CUTS.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrations are drawn from nature by Alex. Agassiz.

Fig.

 

Page

  

1.

Transverse section of an Actinia (Agassiz)

5

  

2, 3, 4.

Actinia in different degrees of expansion (Agassiz)

8

  

5. Metridium marginatum

fully expanded

8

  

6.

Vertical section of an Actinia

10

  

7.

View from above of an expanded Actinia

11

  

8, 9.

Young Actiniæ

11

 

10. Rhodactinia Davisii

13

 

11. Arachnactis brachiolata

14

 

12.

Young Arachnactis

14

 

13.

Young Arachnactis showing the mouth

14

 

14. Bicidium parasiticum

15

 

15. Halcampa albida

16

 

16.

Colony of

Astrangia Danæ

17

 

17.

Magnified individuals of Astrangia

17

 

18.

Single individual of Astrangia

18

 

19.

Lasso-cell of Astrangia

18

 

20.

Limestone pit of Astrangia

19

 

21.

Single individual of

Halcyonium carneum

19

 

22.

Halcyonium community

20

 

23.

Expanded individual of Halcyonium

20

 

24.

Branch of

Millepora alcicornis

(Agassiz)

22

 

25.

Expanded animals of Millepora (Agassiz)

22

 

26.

Transverse section of branch of Millepora (Agassiz)

23

 

27. Pleurobrachia rhododactyla

(Agassiz)

27

 

28.

The same as Fig. 27 seen in plane of tentacles (Agassiz)

28

 

29.

Pleurobrachia in motion

29

 

30.

Pleurobrachia seen from the extremity opposite the mouth

30

 

31. Bolina alata

seen from the broad side (Agassiz)

31

 

32.

Bolina seen from the narrow side (Agassiz)

31

 

33. Idyia roseola

seen from the broad side (Agassiz)

32

 

34.

Young Pleurobrachia still in the egg

35

 

35.

Young Pleurobrachia swimming in the egg

35

 

36.

Young Pleurobrachia resembling already adult

35

 

37.

Young Idyia

35

 

38.

Young Idyia seen from the anal pole

36

 

39.

Idyia somewhat older than Fig. 37

36

 

40.

Idyia still older

36

 

41.

Young Bolina in stage resembling Pleurobrachia

37

 

42.

Young Bolina seen from the broad side

37

 

43.

Young Bolina seen from the narrow side

37

 

44. Cyanea Arctica

40

 

45.

Scyphistoma of Aurelia (Agassiz)

41

 

46.

Scyphistoma older than Fig. 45 (Agassiz)

41

 

47.

Strobila of Aurelia (Agassiz)

41

 

48.

Ephyra of Aurelia (Agassiz)

42

 

49. Aurelia flavidula

seen in profile (Agassiz)

42

 

50.

Aurelia seen from above (Agassiz)

43

 

51. Campanella pachyderma

44

 

52.

The same from below

44

 

53. Trachynema digitale

45

 

54. Haliclystus auricula

46

 

55.

Lucernaria seen from the mouth side

47

 

56.

Young Lucernaria

48

 

57.

Hydrarium of

Eucope diaphana

50

 

58.

Magnified portion of Fig. 57

50

 

59.

Part of marginal tentacles of Eucope

51

 

60.

Young Eucope

51

 

61.

Adult Eucope, profile

51

 

62.

Quarter-disk of Fig. 60

51

 

63.

Quarter-disk of Eucope older than Fig. 62

52

 

64.

Quarter-disk of adult Eucope

52

 

65. Oceania languida

just escaped from the reproductive calycle

53

 

66.

Same as Fig. 65 from below

53

 

67.

Young Oceania older than Fig. 65

54

 

Diagram of succession of tentacles

55

 

68.

Adult Oceania

55

 

69.

Attitude assumed by Oceania

56

 

70. Clytia bicophora

escaped from reproductive calycle

57

 

71.

Somewhat older than Fig. 70

57

 

72.

Magnified portion of Hydrarium of Clytia

57

 

73.

Adult Clytia

57

 

74. Zygodactyla groenlandica

58

 

75.

The same seen in profile

59

 

76. Tima formosa

61

 

77.

One of the lips of the mouth

61

 

78.

Head of Hydrarium of Tima

62

 

79. Melicertum campanula

from above (Agassiz)

63

 

80.

The same seen in profile

64

 

81.

Planula of Melicertum

65

 

82.

Cluster of planulæ

65

 

83.

Young Hydrarium

65

 

84. Dynamena pumila

66

 

85.

Magnified portion of Fig. 84

66

 

86. Dyphasia rosacea

67

 

87.

Medusa of

Lafoea

67

 

88.

Colony of Coryne mirabilis (Agassiz)

68

 

89.

Magnified head of Fig. 88 (Agassiz)

68

 

90.

Free Medusa of Coryne (Agassiz)

68

 

91. Turris vesicaria

69

 

92. Bougainvillia superciliaris

70

 

93.

Hydrarium of Bougainvillia

70

 

94, 95, 96.

Medusæ buds of Fig. 93

71

 

97.

Young Medusa just freed from the Hydroid

71

 

98. Tubularia couthouyi

(Agassiz)

72

 

99.

Cluster of Medusæ of Fig. 98 (Agassiz)

72

100.

Female colony of

Hydractinia polyclina

(Agassiz)

73

101.

Male colony of the same (Agassiz)

73

102.

Unsymmetrical Medusa of

Hybocodon prolifer

(Agassiz)

74

103.

Medusa bud of Hybocodon (Agassiz)

74

104.

Hybocodon Hydrarium (Agassiz)

74

105. Dysmorphosa fulgurans

75

106.

Proboscis of Fig. 105 with young Medusæ

75

107.

Young

Nanomia cara

76

108.

Nanomia with rudimentary Medusæ

76

109.

Nanomia somewhat older than Fig. 108

77

110.

Heart-shaped swimming bell of Nanomia

77

111.

Cluster of Medusæ with tentacles having pendent knobs

78

112.

Magnified pendent knob

79

113.

Medusa with corkscrew-shaped tentacles

79

114.

Medusa with simple tentacle

80

115.

Adult Nanomia

81

116.

Oil float of Nanomia

82

117. Physalia arethusa

(Agassiz)

83

118.

Bunch of Hydræ (Agassiz)

84

119.

Cluster of Medusæ (Agassiz)

84

120. Velella mutica

(Agassiz)

84

121.

Free Medusa of Velella (Agassiz)

84

122. Ptychogena lactea

86

123.

Ovary of Ptychogena

87

124. Synapta tenuis

95

125.

Anchor of Synapta

96

126. Caudina arenata

97

127. Cuvieria squamata

98

128.

Young Cuvieria

99

129.

Cuvieria somewhat older than Fig. 128

99

130. Pentacta frondosa

100

131. Toxopneustes drobachiensis

102

132.

Portion of shell of Fig. 131 without spines (Agassiz)

103

133.

Sea-urchin shell without spines (Agassiz)

103

134.

Sea-urchin from the mouth side (Agassiz)

104

135.

Magnified spine

104

136.

Transverse section of spine

105

137.

Pedicellaria of Sea-urchin

105

138.

Teeth of Sea-urchin

106

139. Echinarachnius parma

107

140.

Transverse section of Echinarachnius (Agassiz)

108

141.

Ray of Star-fish, seen from mouth side (Agassiz)

109

142. Astracanthion berylinus

110

143.

Single spine of Star-fish

111

144.

Limestone network of back of Star-fish

111

145.

Madreporic body of Star-fish

111

146. Cribrella oculata

112

147. Ctenodiscus crispatus

114

148. Ophiopholis bellis

115

149.

Arm of Fig. 148, from the mouth side (Agassiz)

116

150.

Tentacle of

Ophiopholis

116

151. Astrophyton agassizii

118

152.

Pentacrinus

121

153. Alecto meridionalis

122

154.

Young Comatulæ

122

Figs 155, 156, 157.

Egg of Star-fish in different stages of development

124

158.

Larva just hatched from egg

125

159-164.

Successive stages of development of Larva

125

165.

Larva in which arms are developing

126

166.

Adult Star-fish Larva (

Brachiolaria

)

127

167.

Fig. 166 seen in profile

128

168-170.

Young Star-fish (Astracanthion) in different stages of development

129

171.

Lower side of ray of young Star-fish

130

172.

Very young Star-fish seen in profile

130, 130

173-175.

Larvæ of Sea-urchin (Toxopneustes) in different stages of development

130, 131

176.

Adult Larva of Sea-urchin

132

177.

Fig. 176 seen endways

133

178.

Sea-urchin resorbing the arms of the larva

133

179-181.

Successive stages of young Sea-urchin

133, 134

182.

Ophiuran which has nearly resorbed the larva

135

183.

Larva of Ophiuran (Pluteus)

136

184.

Young Ophiuran

137

185.

Cluster of eggs of Star-fishes over mouth of parent

137

 

Diagram of a rocky beach

149

 

 

ABBREVIATIONS OF THE NAMES OF AUTHORS.

Ag.

L. Agassiz.

  

  Jaeg.

Jaeger.

A. Ag.

A. Agassiz.

  

  Lam.

Lamarck.

Ayres

W. O. Ayres.

  

  Lamx.

Lamouroux.

Blainv.

Blainville.

  

  Lin.

Linnæus.

Bosc

Bosc.

  

  Lym.

Lyman.

Br.

Brandt.

  

  M. T.

Müller and Troschel.

Clark

H. J. Clark.

  

  Mill.

Miller.

Cuv.

Cuvier.

  

  Pér. et Les.

Péron and Lesueur.

D. K.

Düben and Koren.

  

  Sars

M. Sars.

Edw.

MARINE ANIMALS OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

ON RADIATES IN GENERAL.

It is perhaps not strange that the Radiates, a type of animals whose home is in the sea, many of whom are so diminutive in size, and so light and evanescent in substance, that they are hardly to be distinguished from the element in which they live, should have been among the last to attract the attention of naturalists. Neither is it surprising to those who know something of the history of these animals, that when the investigation of their structure was once begun, when some insight was gained into their complex life, their association in fixed or floating communities, their wonderful processes of development uniting the most dissimilar individuals in one and the same cycle of growth, their study should have become one of the most fascinating pursuits of modern science, and have engaged the attention of some of the most original investigators during the last half century. It is true that from the earliest days of Natural History, the more conspicuous and easily accessible of these animals attracted notice and found their way into the scientific works of the time. Even Aristotle describes some of them under the names of Acalephæ and Knidæ, and later observers have added something, here and there, to our knowledge on the subject; but it is only within the last fifty years that their complicated history has been unravelled, and the facts concerning them presented in their true connection.

Among the earlier writers on this subject we are most indebted to Rondelet, in the sixteenth century, who includes some account of the Radiates, in his work on the marine animals of the Mediterranean. His position as Professor in the University at Montpelier gave him an admirable opportunity, of which he availed himself to the utmost, for carrying out his investigations in this direction. Seba and Klein, two naturalists in the North of Europe, also published at about this time numerous illustrations of marine animals, including Radiates. But in all these works we find only drawings and descriptions of the animals, without any attempt to classify them according to common structural features. In 1776, O. F. Müller, in a work on the marine and terrestrial faunæ of Denmark, gave some admirable figures of Radiates, several of which are identical with those found on our own coast. Cavolini also in his investigations on the lower marine animals of the Mediterranean, and Ellis in his work upon those of the British coast, did much during the latter half of the past century to enlarge our knowledge of them.

It was Cuvier, however, who first gave coherence and precision to all previous investigations upon this subject, by showing that these animals are united on a common plan of structure expressively designated by him under the name Radiata. Although, from a mistaken appreciation of their affinities, he associated some animals with them which do not belong to the type, and have since, upon a more intimate knowledge of their structure, been removed to their true positions; yet the principle introduced by him into their classification, as well as into that of the other types of the animal kingdom, has been all important to science.

It was in the early part of this century that the French began to associate scientific objects with their government expeditions. Scarcely any important voyage was undertaken to foreign countries by the French navy which did not include its corps of naturalists, under the patronage of government. Among the most beautiful figures we have of Radiates, are those made by Savigny, one of the French naturalists who accompanied Napoleon to Egypt

...