Seaside Studies in Natural History. Marine Animals of Massachusetts Bay. Radiates.
Part 1
Produced by Bryan Ness, Tom Cosmas and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
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 54
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) 86
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 Ophiopolis 116
151. ASTROPHYTON AGASSIZII 118
152. Pentacrinus 121
153. ALECTO MERIDIONALIS 122
154. Young Comatulæ 122
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
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.
A. AG. A. Agassiz.
AYRES W. O. Ayres.
BLAINV. Blainville.
BOSC Bosc.
BR. Brandt.
CLARK H. J. Clark.
CUV. Cuvier.
D. & K. Düben and Koren.
EDW. Milne-Edwards.
FORBES Edw. Forbes.
GRAY J. E. Gray.
JAEG. Jaeger.
LAM. Lamarck.
LAMX. Lamouroux.
LIN. Linnæus.
LYM. Lyman.
M. & T. Müller and Troschel.
MILL. Miller.
PÉR. et LES. Péron and Lesueur.
SARS M. Sars.
STIMP. Stimpson.
TIL. Tilesius.
* * * * *
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; and from this time the lower marine animals began to be extensively collected and studied in their living condition. Henceforth the number of investigators in the field became more numerous, and it may not be amiss to give here a slight account of the more prominent among them.
Darwin's fascinating book, published after his voyage to the Pacific, and giving an account of the Coral islands, the many memoirs of Milne Edwards and Haime, and the great works of Quoy and Gaimard, and of Dana, are the chief authorities upon Polyps. In the study of the European Acalephs we have a long list of names high in the annals of science. Eschscholtz, Péron and Lesueur, Quoy and Gaimard, Lesson, Mertens, and Huxley, have all added largely to our information respecting these animals, their various voyages having enabled them to extend their investigations over a wide field. No less valuable have been the memoirs of Kölliker, Leuckart, Gegenbaur, Vogt, and Haeckel, who in their frequent excursions to the coasts of Italy and France have made a special study of the Acalephs, and whose descriptions have all the vividness and freshness which nothing but familiarity with the living specimens can give. Besides these, we have the admirable works of Von Siebold, of Ehrenberg, the great interpreter of the microscopic world, of Steenstrup, Dujardin, Dalyell, Forbes, Allman, and Sars. Of these, the four latter were fortunate in having their home on the sea-shore within reach of the objects of their study, so that they could watch them in their living condition, and follow all their changes. The charming books of Forbes, who knew so well how to popularize his instructions, and present scientific results under the most attractive form, are well known to English readers. But a word on the investigations of Sars may not be superfluous.