Part 19

Ad exemplum Dⁱ. _Schaffer_ in duas species primo polypos distinguam; in polypos, qui cellulas sibi construant, et in polypos, qui corporis extremitate corallinis aliisque corporibus extus sese affigant, vel in cavitates naturales alcyoniorum, coralliorum, &c. (de quibus in posterum) irrepant, ut cancelli in vacua buccina. Polypi, qui in cellulis habitant, cæteris plerumque sunt minores: horum cellulæ corallinæ[173] truncum vel ramos circumdant, a quibus prudenti manu sine corallinæ læsione satis facile possunt abradi: et si hæ cellulæ non nimia sint copia, et corallina contra solis splendorem inspiciatur, præsertim si color vivide ruber, aureus aut subniger est, facile per ipsas cellulas translucet.

Polyporum, qui sine cellulis in corporum quorundam cavitatibus habitant, aut extrinsecus illis affixi sunt, plurimæ sunt species. Apertis[174] corallinæ tubulariæ ramis (nam in tali planta semper adsunt rami vel tubi naturaliter[175] clausi, id est, integri, in quibus nunquam polypus insidet) majorum polyporum species sæpius supra sedet; quos a colore rubente polypos vocabo _coccineos_, et præ cæteris observavi. In detritis et apertis, ut modo dixi, corallinæ tubulariæ ramulis, inserta sua cauda vel corporis parte posteriore, polypus habitat, et ex hoc ramo facile et sæpe levi quassatione delabitur, præsertim si ille jam per aliquot dies servatus debilis, æger, aut mortuus sit[176].

Si vegetum talem polypum, corallinæ insidentem, vehementius amplificante microscopio intueris, facile differentiam vides inter scabram et quasi granulatam polypi cutem, et lævissimam corallinæ corticem.

Hic polypus coccineus duplici brachiorum genere est munitus, quod in aliis minoribus non vidi; et hæc coloris sunt subalbidi. [177]Inferiora et longiora octodecim vel viginti sunt, nam numerus sæpe variat, et expansa patinam formant, in cujus medio[178] ipsum polypi corpus coccineum est. Hoc corpus in duas partes dividi potest. Inferiori placentam referenti perpendiculariter alia pyriformis est infixa, quæ duodecim[179] vel quatuordecim habet brachia, prioribus tenuiora et breviora.

Hanc partem pyriformem polypus valde [180]extendere potest, præsertim si prædam captans expansa claudit[181] brachia; et rursus ita contrahere, ut quasi [182]globulus inferiori et depressæ parti adhæreat. In extremo hujus partis [183]os polypi esse videtur: sed ob partium exilitatem non omnia satis distincta possunt videri, ut in majoribus aquæ dulcis polypis; sed ex similitudine partium hæc tuto licet concludere.

Si longiora brachia fortiori microscopio attente contemplaris, cutem eorum valde asperam vides, ut est piscium (quos _Haijen_ vocant) vel ut superficies corii granulati (_chagrein-leer_) forsitan ut minora animalcula, quæ polyporum esca sunt, eo melius, ne elabantur, retinere possint. Sed inter hujus speciei polypos vidi umum cæteris[184] majorem, ex cujus corpore, illo loco ubi pars superior inferiori et depressæ inhæret, sex vel octo enascebantur[185] ramuli, in quorum extremitatibus erant duo vel tres parvi globuli, punctum coccineum in medio habentes. Huic polypo bis in die novam dedi aquam, quam maxime de ejus vita sollicitus, ea spe, ut hi globuli in juniores excrescerent polypos, sed quamvis per mensem sic vivum servaverim, nihil mutatum vidi, nisi quod globuli paululum evaserint majores.

Quæ deinceps de polyporum generatione observavi, non ita mihi satisfaciunt, ut illa pro certis et comprobatis habeam: si vero hac æstate meliora adiscam, Regiæ Societati indicabo.

_De aliis Insectis Marinis._

Si noctu aqua maris, quæ littora nostra alluit, lapide injecto vel baculo movetur, innumeras videre est scintillas igneas, quæ nihil aliud sunt, quam minima animalcula lucentia, non nisi fortiore microscopio visibilia.

Ut hæc animalcula idoneâ colligas copiâ, sufficientem aquæ quantitatem, in qua has scintillas observasti, per chartam emporeticam filtrare facias, donec semiuncia aut minus aquæ supra chartam restat: hujus guttula, vitro concavo, penicilli vel pennæ ope, imposita, fortiore microscopio examinetur, et celerimo motu illa natare videbis. Tres diversas horum observavi species, quas ad vivum delineatas exhibet tabulæ X. fig. I.

Sed mare plura alit insecta, quibus hæc lucendi facultas inest, et quorum in corallinis repertorum quædam delineata sunt tab X. fig. 1, 2, 4, 5. sed quoniam plures [186]auctores de his scripserunt, non commemorabo.

Si corallinæ recenter ex mare extractæ major planta, orbi porcellano concavo, et cujus fundus est profundi coloris cærulei, cum sufficiente quantitate aquæ marinæ pellucidissimæ et filtratæ, at ante jam monui, imponatur, et ejus ramuli prudenter penna expandentur, et lente oculari inspiciantur, silvam saepius videre est, in qua plurima pascuntor animalia, præter diversi generis polypes ramis infixos et brachia extendentes: alia plura sunt, præsertim in infima parte, si corallinæ supra ostrea creverint, quæ huc et illuc cursitant, et forsitan sæpius hianti ostreo alimento inserviunt. Sic vigesimo tertio Octobris 1756 ostreum accepi, cui magna [187]corallinæ planta erat innata, in qua, præter tres diversas polyporum species, sex differentia reperiebam insecta. [188]Primum vermis erat, cujus caput sex majoribus et duobus minoribus cornubus erat instructum. [189]Alteram valde parvum araneam longipedem (Gallis _le Faucheur_) referebat, admodum lente se movens. Tertium vermis erat, similis figuræ 3, sed in designando deperdebatur. [190]Quartum, quintum et sextum non nisi fortiore microscopio distincte erant visibilia. Horum quod littera c nocatur, mirandæ erat structuræ.

Diversa sic ostrea et corallinas explorans, plura talia admiranda insecta vidi, quorum delineationem sistunt tabulae X. figuræ 2, 3, 4, 5, 7. Decimo sexto ejusdem mensis Octobris, plures mihi sed valde parvæ apportabantur corallinæ, quæ a dolio coniformi erant abrasæ: in his licet sæpe et attente exploratis nullos detegere poteram polypos, sed duo alia mirabilissima insecta.

Horum, quæ secunda figura tabulæ decimæ littera A exhibet, erant millia, celerrimo motu vel repentia vel natantia: sex suis pedibus postremis ramulum arripiebant, ut erucarum, quas geometras appellant, mos est, et mirum in modum prone et supine se flectentes, de ramo in ramum saliebant quasi agilissimi. Inter hæc erant pauca cæteris majora, quæ [191]naturali et [192]aucta magnitudine delineare curavi. [193]Alterum animal non minos mirum erat; sed horum omnium cognitio multo melius delineationis inspectu, quam ex valde prolixa descriptione peti potest.

Sed si omnia insecta marina, quæ in diversis corallinis reperi, delineare vellem, infinitum opus susciperem; nam eorum numerus et diversitas captum nostrum superant.

Hæc ergo, ut spero, sufficient ad demonstrandum corallinas non polyporum opus aut fabricam esse, sed his et plurimis aliis insectis marinis domicilio et perfugio aut alimento inservire.

Dabam ZirizϾ in Zelandia, 17 Martii 1757.

TABULARUM EXPLICATIO.

TABULA SEPTIMA.

_Fig._ I. Exhibet corallinæ plantam, quæ corallina muscosa, sive muscus marinus tenui capillo spermophorus vocatur.

_Fig._ II. Corallina ramulis dichotomis teneris capillaribus rubentibus. _Fig._ III. Junior planta corallinæ tubulariæ laryngi similis.

_Fig._ IV. Duæ species _a_, _b_, fig. I. et. II. et _c_ eschara papyracea utrinque cellulifera, uni basi adnatæ, quod sæpius in doliis marinis coniformibius contigit.

_Fig._ V. Corallinæ rubræ ramulus, quem per aliquot hebdomadas in aqua marina sæpius renovata servavi, quo tempore parvi ramuli _a_, _a_, multum creverunt, et alii _b_, _b_, pullulaverunt.

_Fig._ VI. Pars conchæ ostrei, in qua, præter filamenta quædam viridia, duo polypi _a_ _a_ conspiciendi.

_Fig._ VII. Cancer arachnoideus, cui duæ polyporum species insidebant. Singulus in _a_, et multi cellulas habitantes in _b_.

_Fig._ VIII. Animal, quod _aarsgat_ vocatur, et januis emissasiorum veterioribus et navibus accrescit: huic parva corallinæ planta erat innata, in qua nullos detegere poteram polypos; plurimos vero _b._ _b._ ipsi animali insidentes.

_N.B._ Caudas horum et præcedentis figuræ polyporum nimis longas delineavit pictor, ut eo melius in conspectum venirent.

TABULA OCTAVA.

_Fig._ I. Ramus corallinæ rubentis magnitudine naturali.

_Fig._ II. Idem microscopio visus, et tres polyporum species in eo conspiciendæ.

_a. b._ Duæ diversæ species caudâ vel corporis parte posteriore corallinæ affixæ.

_c._ Tertia species in cellulis habitans. _d._ Polypus mortuus.

_e._ Polyporum cellulæ.

_Fig._ III. Planta corallinæ tubulariæ laryngi similis magnitudine naturali.

_Fig._ IV. Hujus plantæ ramus maximus, microscopio visus, in quo quinque diversos polypos inveni.

_a._ Prima et maxima species polypi, quem coccineum voco, et tab. IX. fig. II. fortiore adhuc microscopio visum exhibet.

_b._ Eadem sed minor species.

_c._ Tertia, quæ eadem ut hujus tabulæ fig. II. litt. _b_.

_d._ Quarta, quæ eadem ut hujus tabulæ fig. II. litt. _c_.

_e._ Quinta et minima polyporum species, maxime aucta magnitudine adhuc delineata fig. 1. tab. IX.

_f._ Cellulæ, quas quarta species habitat.

_Fig._ V. Corallina erecta pennata denticulis alternis caule appressis: in hac nulli erant polypi nisi in cellulis circumcirca truncam affixis _a a_.

_b._ Cochleæ magnitudine auctæ in B.

_c._ Eschara millepora minima crustacea cellulis tubiformibus, animalculis domicilio inserviens, et magnitudinæ auctæ in C.

_Fig._ VI. Corallina abietis forma, quam mense Decembri accepi: ejus rami vesiculis vel ovulis _a_, _a_, per paria ordine quadam positis, erant obsessi.

A. Talis vesicula vel ovum microscopio visum.

_b._ Cochleæ, & _c._ Eschara minima, ut in præcedente figura magnitudine aucta in B et C.

_d._ _d._ Dua corpuscula fusca, quæ microscopio visa nidum vermium referunt in D.

_Fig._ VII. Corallina pennata et siliquata, ab ostreo abstracta: in hac præter tres polyporum species

_a_ A, _b_ B. (quæ cædem ac in fig. II.) _c_ C, sex alia insecta reperire contigit, quæ delineata sunt in tab. X. fig. 1, 6, 8.

TABULA NONA.

_Fig._ I. Minimorum polyporum marinorum genus, cum polypis ramosis (_polypes à bouquet_) aquæ dulcis conveniens.

A. talis polypus conservæ marinæ viridi insidens vix oculo nudo conspicuus.

B. idem lente oculari, et in C fortiore visus microscopio.

_Fig._ II. Polypus coccineus, quem tabulæ secundæ

_Fig._ III. & IV. naturali et aucta magnitudine exhibent, hic fortissimo microscopio visus.

A. hic polypus expansis brachiis, prædam expectans.

B. idem brachia contrahendo, prædam arripiens.

_a._ Brachia majora inferiora numero 16, 18, vel 20.

_b._ Brachia superiora breviora numero 12, 14, vel 16.

_c._ Corporis pars superior pyriformis, inferiori infixa.

_d._ Corporis pars inferior compressa.

_e._ Locus, ubi polypus corallinæ inhæret.

C. idem polypus a parte anteriore visus, cum corporis partem superiorem pyriformem in globulum contraxerat, quod in majoribus polypis (vide infra fig. IV, V, VI.) magis visibile.

_Fig._ III. Similis polypus coccineus, cæteris major, ex cujus corpore (ubi partes _c_ et _d_ conjunguntur) octo ramuli enascebantur, qui in summitatibus duos vel tres gerebant globulos, punctum rubrum in medio habentes, et quos in polypos juniores excreturos fore speraveram frustra.

_a._ Hujus polypi brachia longiora inferiora.

_b._ Brachia breviora superiora.

_c._ In medio corporis pyriformis os polypi esse videtur.

_Fig._ IV. Majus, ut videtur, genus polyporum, quos _klapkonten_ vocant, ostreorum conchis insidentium, quorum hic, rudius attractum, brachia penitus in corpus suum abscondit.

_Fig._ V. Idem polypus corpore extenso brachia expandens.

_Fig._ VI. Idem capta præda se contrahens.

TABULA DECIMA.

_Fig._ I. Tres species animalculorum lucentium in guttula aquæ marinæ fortiore microscopio visorum.

_Fig._ II. Mirum animalculum in corallinis a doliis marinis coniformibus abrasis repertum.

A. tales minores erant centeni.

B. decem vel duodecim erant hac magnitudine naturali.

C. idem animal microscopio visum.

_a._ Antennæ.

_b._ Primum par pedum vel brachiorum.

_c._ Secundum par.

_d._ Tertium et maximum par.

_e_, _e_, _e_, _e_. Quatuor corpuscula oviformia, quæ animal ut movebat natando.

_f_, _f_, _f_, _f_, _f_, _f_. Sex pedes posteriores, quibus simul corallinæ ramum arripiens, quaquaversum se flectore poterat.

_g._ Cauda in cujus extrema parte anus.

_h._ Oculi.

_Fig._ III. Aliud animal in iisdem corallinis repertum.

A. illud animal pronum.

B. supinum.

C. fortiore microscopio visum.

_Fig._ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. exhibent quasdam noctilucas, et alia animalcula in diversis corallinis reperta, ea magnitudine, qua tertia et quarta lens microscopii à Dº. Cuff in Anglia fabrefacti illa ostendit.

Animalculum _c_, fig. 8. mirabilissimæ erant structuræ, et plurima habebat membra.

XXXIII. _Remarks on Dr._ Job Baster’s Observationes de Corallinis, &c. _printed above, p. 258. In a Letter to the Right Honourable_ George _Earl of_ Macclesfield, _President of the R. S. from Mr._ John Ellis, _F.R.S._

[Read June 9, 1757.]

My Lord,

I HAVE read Dr. Job Baster’s letter to the Royal Society; wherein he endeavours to prove, that corallines are not of an animal, but a vegetable nature; and has brought many arguments to support his system; which, to gentlemen not well acquainted with the subject, may appear plausible.

I could have wished the Doctor had read and examined thoroughly what has been lately written on the subject: I then should not have had occasion to trouble your Lordship with the following remarks, which I find necessary to support what I have already advanced on that head.

His first argument is, That because he does not find as many polypes in the corallines adhering to ships, flood-gates, and buoys, as in deep water on oysters, muscles, and rocks, therefore he concludes, that corallines are not formed by polypes.

In answer to this, let us examine the pliable structure of these bodies, and how wisely nature has defended such tender substances with a tough thin membranaceous covering, and we shall find, that the sea is calm enough often near the surface to give them time to grow, even in the strongest currents: but, without doubt, they are more liable to be destroyed in such agitated situations, than in the calm depths of the sea.

His second argument is, That finding polypes are not equally dispersed over the whole plant, how can they form it? and gives us an example, _Tab._ VIII. _fig._ 5. of a coralline, that is incrusted with many other corallines or polypes on the stem, but has none on the branches.

Here we plainly see the mistake: the Doctor looks for the tender part of the polype on the surface of the coralline, considering it as a plant; and indeed, if this was the case, he ought so to do; but he never once takes notice of the internal hollow structure of the stem, branches, and denticles of those bodies, to inform us whether he found an animal in those parts or no. This material point he seems not to have thought on; which is really the true point in controversy at present among gentlemen, who have not examined these bodies recent in sea-water.

His third argument is, That almost always one and the same coralline plant cherishes polypes of different kinds; and refers us to Tab. VIII. fig. 2. and 4.

In fig. 2. he gives us an elegant painting of a geniculated red conserva for a coralline, surrounded, as is very common, by many species of small corallines and escharas. And in fig. 4. he gives us a drawing of one of the tubular corallines, with the head of the animal at the top of it; the stem of this is incrusted with four different corallines and escharas, like the conserva fig 2.; and then he asks, which of these five polypes made the tubular coralline?

To give him some proof of the animal nature of this coralline, let him consult Ray’s Synopsis, ed. 3. p. 34. n. 4. and there he will find one of his species, called _adianti aurei minimi facie planta marina_, taken notice of so long ago as the year 1713. by Dr. Lloyd, as a zoophyte, from its stem or tube’s being full of a thick reddish liquor, rather resembling blood than the juice of a plant; which, upon pressing the stem, communicated with the little head at top.

His fourth argument is, That as upon one and the same coralline plant you shall find different kind of polypes; so, in different species of coralline, the same polypes; and, to confirm this, he quotes my Essay on Corallines; where I have remarked, that the polypes in the denticles of the setaceous or bristly coralline, Nº. 16. appear to be like those, that are on the lobster’s horn coralline, Nº. 19. And to illustrate this, he observes, that bees and wasps always build their cells invariably the same; and that therefore these two corallines should be the same.

But herein he takes this matter wrong: he has considered, in all his observations, the heads of those parts of the polype, in which are the mouths, arms, or tentacula, which appear coming out of the cups, denticles, and at the ends of the tubes of the corallines, as so many whole and intire animals, without every observing, that the body of the animal is contained in the tubular part of the root, stem, and branches; and that these differ from one another widely both in size and shape, as he may plainly see in the two corallines he has instanced: for the more exact drawings of which, I shall refer him, _viz._ for the setaceous or bristly coralline, to my Plate, Nº. 38. the natural size of which is at fig. 4. and the magnified one at fig. D: this he will observe to have a small stem, and its branches disposed in a pinnated form: and for the lobster’s-horn coralline, I shall refer him to Tab. xxii. of Vol. xlviii. of the Philosophical Transactions; where, at Nº. 3. the natural size is expressed, and at C the upper part of this coralline is drawn in proportion to the bristly coralline from the same magnifying glass; which shews the stem to be much larger, and surrounded by its branches growing in whorles at equal distances, not unlike the equisetum, or horse-tail plant; and yet the heads of this animal nearly resemble the other, only a little larger. Further, his comparison to bees and wasps, and their cells, is not conclusive: for these ramified, hollow, and denticulated bodies, called corallines, which we so frequently find dead on our shores, are properly skins of certain marine polypes, and not nests, as those constructed by these little winged animals are. And yet we find as great a regularity in the same species of these corallines, as when we compare two oak trees to one another, or two of Mr. Trembley’s branched fresh-water polypes to one another.

He then proceeds to his fifth argument, That if corallines were formed by polypes, neither the polypes, nor even their cells, would ever fix on living animals, or any other bodies.

Here we may observe, that the consequence he draws doth not follow; for corallines may be formed or produced by certain species of polypes, and yet polypes of another species may be found adhering to other bodies, and even to animal bodies.

By his sixth argument he endeavours to prove, That the vesicles, which are found in regular rows on the sea-fir coralline in winter, Tab. VIII. fig. 6. do not belong to it; and are no more than the eggs of some sea insect deposited on it, of which there may be a great variety.

But to convince him of his mistake, let him take off one of the vesicles, and apply a large magnifier to the place, and he will discover a hole, by which this vesicle or ovary has had a communication thro’ the skin with the parent polype. For a further illustration of the manner in which these vesiculated polypes breed, let him consult the 38th Plate of my Essay, where he will find several accurate figures (drawn by Mr. Ehret from the life) of these vesicles, with the spawn of the polypes coming out of them; some of which spawn we evidently discovered to be young polypes with their arms formed; and, as they fell from the vesicle, extending themselves in the watch-glass of sea-water.

In examining the drawings for his plates, I have observed, that Tab. VII. fig. 2. is evidently a red conserva, which he calls a coralline. We have no corallines, but many conservas, of this form and bright red colour on our coasts; and these shores, I believe, are allowed to have similar marine productions with those of Holland.

Tab. VII. fig. 5. he calls a branch of red coralline, which he says he kept several weeks in sea-water, and that often changed; during which time it sprouted and grew very much. This experiment, I am persuaded, is very true; because it is plainly a vegetable, as appears from his own exact drawing of it; and seems to be the _fucus teres rubens minus in longnum protensus_ of Ray’s Synopsis, ed. 3. p. 91. N. 53. This is one of his principal arguments to prove the vegetation of corallines.

Tab. VIII. fig. 1. he calls a branch of red coralline; and at fig. 2. he has it magnified, where it appears to be a geniculated red conserva, drawn and painted with great exactness.

These arguments, my Lord, and these figures of real vegetables, which the Doctor has given us for corallines, shew, how much he is willing to support the old opinion of the botanists: but I am satisfied he will soon alter his opinion, when he observes the remarkable difference of the texture of vegetable and coralline bodies, when viewed in sea-water thro’ a good aquatic microscope. And to convince him more fully, that corallines are an animal substance, let him burn them, and he will perceive the same pungent volatile alkaline smell, which he finds in burning horn, hair, or oysters; whereas burnt fucus’s and conservas yield a smell not much unlike that of common land vegetables. Even the stony corallines, when their cretaceous covering has been dissolved in vinegar, the membranous part, that remains of them, put into the fire, yields the same animal smell with other corallines.

Further, since I find the Doctor has promised the Royal Society to continue his researches at the seaside, the following hints may be of use to him. And, first, he will find, that those he seems to think naked polypes, which he found adhering to corallines and other bodies, are really small corallines and escharas, with their proper skins and cells; all which I have particularly described already. I would then recommend him to examine such corallines as are taken out of the deepest water, which are found adhering to shells and fucus’s. He will find Mr. Cuff’s aquatic microscope, or one of that form, the most commodious for observing these animals alive.

The most transparent ones he will find the best to discover their gelatinous inside, which runs thro’ the stem and ramifications, and ends in the heads, where the claws are. Some of the best kinds to observe are as follows: The sea-oak coralline, the lily-flowering coralline, the great tooth coralline, the sea-thread coralline, and the branched tubular coralline. Pieces of these should be cut off while they are in the sea water, and placed in watch-glasses full of the same: in these they should remain a while, till they recover themselves; and when they are placed on the stage of the microscope, the motion of the internal part communicating with the heads will be easily discovered.