RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1834.02-03. Zoological diary: Tierra del Fuego. CUL-DAR31.216-227. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Richard Darwin Keynes in Zoology notes (2000, F1840). Revised and supplemented here by Christine Chua to correspond to the manuscript images. Edited by John van Wyhe 6-7.2022. RN1
NOTE: Original transcription reproduced with permission of Richard Darwin Keynes, the Syndics of Cambridge University Library, English Heritage (Down House Collection) and William Huxley Darwin.
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Holuthuria The Anus is placed on the back, & in the same relation to the posterior extremity as the mouth is to the anterior:— it is closed by 5 unequal scales or valves & one small central one; nearly heart shaped.— The scales which lie between these orifices are larger & squarer than the others.— The viscera on lower surface do not fill up the whole concavity, but as far as where the small scales commence, which latter form a case over the body.— the inferior membrane is sprinkled over with hyaline spots points.— its outer edge has short striæ, pointing from the centre, of the same stony natures as the scales.— within these, there is a single row of papillæ, which extend round the under body.— the head of these is flat slightly coloured plate; the surface of which seen with a high power is covered with small suckers.— this plate is not contractile, but the long transparent footstalk is. Length of one specimen 1/4 of inch; generally more than half this.— Edge of body from the scales, sinuous.— Color "Flesh & Aurora red".— under surface more orange".— They are found adhæring pretty firmly to leaves of sea-weed & in 16 Fathom water. NE end of Navarin Isd.— When the Tentacula are half protruded this animal most curiously resembles a Doris.— Can crawl, (but very slowly) by the aid of the Papillæ & the Tentacula which are adhæsive.— these when the animal moves are extended before it. & can be seen. When detached from a leaf, the animal can curl in the edges of the shell to a small degree.— (a) The animal is very pretty from elegant arrangement of scales & color.—
(a) "Peach blossom with little Aurora red" is more accurate. Tree like Tentacula are coloured orange.—
Tierra del Fuego
1834 Feb:
Animal? 853 oval globules, with tough external skin: color dark olive brown — centre of sack filled with thick adhæsive brown substance, without vessels.— Adhæres to sea weed, by a flocculent substance at one extremity, through which a vessel might be seen.— No signs of irritability. when placed in fresh water, burst itself.— I believe several being detached & placed together in watch glass, reunited themselves one to the other.— 16 Fathom. NE of Navarin Isld, on sea weed &c &c.
Spongia (?) 852 copied Bowebank Mass irregularly sphærical. general length of whole .3 of inch. sponge-color; thickly covered with numerous fine spines or hairs.— from centre of body a tube proceeds, length .1. formed of white approximate hairs; near base has delicate transverse partition, from this point the hairs slightly diverge, making the tube gradually widen at its mouth; tube conducts to central linear cavity, lined with hexagonal net work, which are the orifices of oblong spongy cells, which fill up the mass.— Could perceive no currents.— Adhæres to sea-weed.— Hab: same as above.—
Crust. Mac: 860 March 1st.— East end of Beagle Channel.— Roots of Fucus G. Back "Hyacinth & brownish red" with oblong marks & spots of gem-like "ultra-marine blue". one white transverse mark & longitudinal one on tail; 1st & great legs, same color as body, but penultimate limb centre part white edged with "do blue". anti-penultimate ringed with white, "do blue" & "do red". other limbs legs with basal limbs faintly ringed but ultimate limbs orange.— sides with oblique stripes "reddish brown".— Animal most beautiful.—
Tierra del Fuego
1834 March 1st
Pleuro-branchus 861 Sigaretus Length .6 crawling: breadth .3: color very pale dirty yellow: beneath white — semi-transparent: very soft. (impossible to touch it after being killed in fresh water). mantle much depassing foot: superior feelers. approximate at foot, length .1, extremities square or truncate.— inferior feelers. extremities rounded. Seated wide apart, from tip to tip when extended .3: there is a connecting membrane which unites them half way up.— which has 3 sinuosities, central one greatest deepest; there are fine dots of black on it: Branchiæ. on right side, large, forming a pyramidal mass of tufts.— 10 Fathom: roots of Fucus Giganticus. East end of Beagle Cha[nnel]
Octopus 862 General color. "Hyacinth red". which appeared when viewed through lens in fine dots: the animal being left in impure water & frightened, the arms & basal connecting membranes would become quite white, sometimes however leaving patches of the red on the arms or body: when irritated, or placed in fresh water, the red was driven to the surface in the space of 3 or 4 seconds: from which it might again be seen to retire, (as a blush from the face) but irregularly.— could swim backwards.— was very soon killed by fresh water; were found coiled up in roots of Fucus Giganticus. Hab as above: with near them were small ones, spotted on upper-surface of body arms with a brighter red:
863 Crepidula 864 The ovules or young shells were on a stone beneath the parent shell; were contained in 9 oblate sphæres or sacks which were connected by tubes in a circle to a common base.— There were about 12 to 15 in
Tierra del Fuego
1834 March 1st
Crepidula copied each sack, sometimes more or less: the young shells were crawling about in the interior; every part seemed perfect.— the bars or lines of the Branchiæ were very much developed in superior part of shell.— Body large in proportion to shell: anterior part of foot much produced.— Eye black dots: general color, yellowish white. Hab: as above:
Flustra (with moving beak) (874) (1874 not spirits) (a) March 1st.— East entrance of Beagle channel: adhæring to roots of Fucus G:— I shall generally only mention those parts which are not preservable.— Cells spindle shaped. placed in straight rows — each cell adhæring laterally by 4 supports to others, forming a most elegant net work.— the base &c &c.— Polypus, with 26 arms which are very nearly length of whole cell.— These rest on an inverted cone (Pl. 8 Fig. 3). this cone acts as a mouth. a central vessel or opening may be seen closing, with a peristaltic motion; this again joins to a slight enlargement of the main red viscus.— I believe just beneath in enlargement this (stomach? or œsophagus?) makes a bend; but this part is very difficult to [be] made out, for when the Polypus is protruded, this part is just in the aperture of cell; & when drawn back it is doubled at the very base.— These last parts are enclosed in a delicate tube: which & the arms are enclosed in a transparent case; which is protrudable: Fig 3 is a drawing of the above parts: all which is beneath the dotted lines I have not actually seen in this position, but have no doubt it [is] the true one: For in (Fig. 4) we have a back view of polypus.— we here see a curved thick vessel, with more or less red granular matter, lying obliquely across the cell: (A) is rather globular, & the most solid viscus
(a) Also common in Falkland Isds. As every cell grows before another in perfectly straight lines, & as the piece is irregularly circular; branch lines must frequently be sent off: one cell in this case seen producing two others, one in the usual place, another in the place of anterior connecting link or bracket: How completely does the Polypier produce cells & Polypi.— Specimens (939) were attached to a Spider Crab.—
[sketch]
I saw this species at Chiloe. on a stone, roots of Kelp.—
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Flustra in the body. Close to this at (K) there was a rapid revolution of small red grains, which apparently were contained in a sort of vessel or sack.— this sort of circulation sometimes extended ½ down the gut (B), the posterior end of which is full of red matter. Close to (K) a longitudinal red vessel (now seen over base of arms) contracts in diameter, bends & unites to the main one.— Fig 5. is same seen in front view, but is much more obscure.— The longitudinal vessel I think it is probable I have drawn too long — it is difficult to see distinctly.— When dying, the body is protruded as far even as in the circulating organ (K): but generally only beneath inverted cone.— Is the rapid motion of (K), that of the stomach (A) the liver & (B) the cæcum? The side of extreme part of (B) is attached to the middle of cell & all round liner. like those of muscles, are connected with the polypus. The position of all the above organs is not very constant, but subject to the will of the animal: the mouth of cell is composed of a moveable arched lip (like lower jaw of a bull-dog). Before the Polypus protrudes itself, this lip is lifted up & backward baseward.
This Coralline is extraordinary from the presence of capsules resembling vulture heads2, noticed in another coralline of the same family (P 78).— Each cell has 2, seated at its anterior end, just above where the two upper brackets go off to connect the lateral cells. These capsules have a peduncle, with basal articulation: when at rest, they lie obliquely so as almost to meet at the very extremity of cell.— The peduncle is capable of being moved upwards & towards the base & nearly through 180 degrees; the
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Flustra with capsule (a) lower mandible (keeping up simile with Vulture head but really superior) is kept wide open, so as to form a straight line with the upper one: it is occasionally closed, but not kept so; this motion is more frequent than that of the whole peduncle; both are rapid; chiefly take place when irritated by being touched, or fresh water: the mandibles firmly hold on to a needle: I never saw both capsules move at once, or any isochronism between different cells, excepting when affected together by fresh water or other cause.— There was an appearance of gullet at base of Mandibles, but I could trace no vessel or communication with cell.— (this can be investigated in the spirit specimens) I do not think these Capsules are exactly same shape with those of P 78.—
There is another curious organ; In any row, the base of one cell is contracted & cylindrical & unites itself to the posterior one beneath the mouth.— Posterior to this point of junction, the greater number of cells have a thick, transparent, flexible, straight cylindrical vessel, projecting out.— it bends at right angles close to cell, & then continues parallel & beneath the row of cells; it is 3 or 4 times longer than cell, so as to project beyond the edges of Coralline. the extremity is rounded & impervious; it appears to me these stalks form a trellis work for the cells to lie, & perhaps also as means of attachment.— The connecting brackets appear hollow; where two rows of cells diverge, in the centre of an anterior bracket a globular enlargement takes place, which afterward form a cell, so as to
a) The Capsule retained its irritability longer than the Polypus was dead & removed: this continued its rapid & starting motion.— This rapidity of motion is different from that of P 78.—
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Flustra with Capsule fill up the divergence between the rows.— In the young & extreme cells, the arms of Polypus do not reach half its length (Fig 6). they are enclosed in a bead, the neck of which is attached to anterior extremity of cell.— Here the four brackets are shown by knobs.— the capsules by a club-shaped mass with central little ball.— the posterior horn or vessel, & the site of anterior or other young cell is shown by short tube ending in a knob.— Before the arms of Polypus are complete & before any red viscera can be seen, the moving capsules are perfect.— The youngest form of cell, is globular mass with central spot or mark.— In some of the central & therefore old cells, I noticed (but did not examine sufficiently), a young Polypus — as at (F.6), Above anterior to which was a shrunk dark red viscus with central ball: it appeared as if the old Polypus had died (or produced an ovum) & a young one took its place in the cell. I could see no reproductive ovules.—
This coralline, when alive, from its extreme symetry, complicated Polypus, curious motion of capsules, was a most interesting spectacle: Coralline colored from Polypi dirty orange.— This Polypus is closely allied to that of Obelia, P 174. there the vessel which comes from the base of arms is elongated, passed a red organ, bends, contains a revolving mass & ends in a red-gut-shaped mass.— there is no difference, excepting that in this one, the longitudinal vessel joins an oblique one instead of passing by the Liver & then bending.—
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Flustra (encrusting) (a) 878 March 1st.— East entrance of Beagle channel.— (Pl. 9, F 1) is drawing of Polypus from one of the cells, as I extracted it.— length from tip (if contracted), arm to end of cœcum or blind gut .015:— arms 16 in number.— they rest on footstalk in which an inverted conical space is contained.— there was here a small degree of the same corpuscular motion as will be described at (K).— It would seem to act as a mouth; just beneath this the stem contracts & bends.— & then proceeds in straight; it is generally full of reddish matter & is here (from A to B) much contracted. Above the centre of body is an irregular quadrangular body (K), more transparent than rest, formed of double edges, & revolving on its internal edges5, especially & centre reddish granules.— From its external & lower edge, a line goes which seems to form the sack (cœcum?) (D), which contains reddish granular matter; a thick mass of which generally lies at the bottom, above the pointed extremity.— I do not know what the connection is between the red substance in (D) & in stem A & B.—
Above the revolving organ, the body takes a turn & forms an oblong case, which contains a dark red kidney mass.— this (I believe) is connected by its base with vessel running nearly to foot of arms.— the case is joined at its extremity to the case of the tentacula on arms & (I believe) at the base by a bracket with the stem (A B).— The position of these parts in the cell will be seen from the back view (F2). Here we have the stem (AB) much extended, & joining near the revolving organ (K) to the body, which lies underneath & close to mouth of cell: the other end of stem bends & doubtless joins to base of tentacula, which are
(a) In Ponsonby Sound6 procured more specimens: did not here notice triangular hatchways; but before the mouth of cell there were circular hollows for orange ovules:
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Flustra (encrusting) represented by dotted lines, for it is not possible to see them.— Cell is perforated by curiously shaped orifices [sketch] .— Above the mouth of cells are long spines or hair & blunt points: which perhaps are young hairs.— There is also another very curious organ. it projects up like at hatchway on deck; is triangular; the door lies wide open on the surface, it appears to have a terminal tooth.— This door can be made exactly to close the hatchway, but immediately by elasticity or actual motion pulls open again.— This organ has some alliance with (a) curious one of foregoing Flustra.—
Polype? 881 Stem creeping, throwing up upright footstalks, which bear at extremities, each one animal. Whole substance membrano—gelatinous.— Animal cup shaped, one side being more convex than other, & considerably flattened: On the edge there are from 16 to 18 (17 common number) arms or tentacula; these are connected for about ¼ of their length, at their bases by a membrane. The summit of cup within arms is flat & oval; at one end, there is a rather large transvers mouth, at the opposite small orifice of anus.—
Pl. 10, Fig 1 is a side view of broard side of animal; The mouth conducts into straight, irregular vessel or sack; this possesses a peristaltic motion & another which resembles that produced by ciliæ. This sack contracts & enters in another & larger vessel, which varies in shape & dimension, fills up bottom of cup & generally contains some reddish granular matter; in this we see the rapid revolving motion, lately so frequently mentioned amongst the Flustræ.— This stomach leads into a
(a) 880 Flustra with cells on one side of branch: Beagle Channel: 15 Fathom: Polypus essentially the same as in the above animal; stem (AB) as might be supposed from form of cell is longer in proportion; near point of junction, revolving organ was visible, but the greatest difference was in the regular oval figure of the organ, which in the above animal is kidney-shaped, & in being much more distinctly divided from the cæcum: point of junction is merely a neck.— I could not count the arms or tentacula
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Polype? cylindrical vessel which lies in end of cup, opposed to (œsophagus?).— This generally contains pellets of dark red matter, which both by force & by animals will I have seen ejected.— they are fæces.— In centre of cup above the stomach, there is a transparent globular organ which contains (generally) from 4 to 5 small irregularly shaped bodies; these consist of central opake mass in transparent case, are irritable & highly contractile: there would appear to be two faintly coloured prominences, & between these there is a curved spaces covered by small vibrating fillets or ciliæ: These are sufficient to move the mass.— It is clear there are half-matured ovules.— Besides these the centre of cup, perhaps may contain some organs connected with the stomach.— All the above organs are enveloped in case independent of the outer one; which latter seems to form connecting membrane between base of arms.—
(Fig. 2) is view of anus & intestine end of cup: F (3). vertically from above, mouth & anus.— (Fig 4) is one of the tentacula; they are lined on inner surface by numerous minute fillets, which are in incessant rapid vibration; & thus cause current in water.— the back part is filled with small globular grains, between them & the fillets there is a clear space, which I think acts as a vessel & is connected with a circular one at base of membrane, which I believe emties itself near the mouth?— The connecting membrane is filled with grains, twice as large as those in the Tentacula: (Fig 5) shows manner of growth.— the first sign is then cylindrical projection: this soon has a globular head, & even when very
Tierra del Fuego
1834
Polype? small (C) little tentacula make their appearance. From this epock, they merely increase in size; in all the early stages the cup is very large in proportion to the stem.— The footstalk, in its lower part, has a shoulder, & increases suddenly in diameter.— this is .004, & is little less than that of the creeping stem.— They both contain semi-opake granular matter in a transparent case. Whole animal delicate, transparent; length of footstalk .005 .05, of cup with collapsed arms .02. with those extended must be more than .03. Animal highly irritable; sensation evidently communicated from one to the other.— Beside the contraction & collapsement of the tentacula, the animal can move in all directions the footstalk: this it sometimes does in a circular manner & tolerably rapid.— When the cup was cut off & placed in water, it revolved steadily & slowly: power of motion must lie in that part.— Occurs plentifully, filling up the longitudinal furrows or wrinkles in the leaves of the Fucus Giganticus.— Ponsonby Sound.— March 5th.— What is this animal? Where does it come in the scale of Nature?—
Cellaria or Loricaria 885 Ponsonby Sound.— Growing in small flesh-colored tufts on the leaves of the Fucus giganticus: Polypier. brittle very thin; each cell has its face excised by a shield shaped piece of thin membrane which extends ¾ length of cell; the separation between the cells is of a soft nature &c &c &c.— Polypus 16 arms: in the young terminal, cells are seen pursed
Tierra del Fuego
1834 (.March)
Loricaria up in a sack, as represented in Flustra (PL 8, F 6).— Body essentially same as in encrusting Flustra (P 223 PL: 9).— The revolving mass was evident; when in cell, the cæcum (D) & organ (L) formed nearly a straight line, instead of lying obliquely.— Organ L. more circular & more detached from cæcum.— it was most evidently attached both to sides of cell & to the base of tentacula.— (I imagined I here saw external to the tentacula an orifice or anus!?).— Body altogether small.— On the same Fucus leaves there was another Cellaria, closely allied but I believe a different species.— (886).
Coralline stony (870. not spits:) Small. white. branching stony Polypier; composed of central tubes encased in a stony net work, through which cells pass at right angles, these have a projecting tube, are placed in lines or irregularly on Coralline.— Extremity of branches flattened, rather dilated, composed of angular & circular net work of orifices, which would appear to be forming the cells.— Polypus I had very little opportunity (bad weather) of examining: possessed few tentacula, I believe 10 or 12; seated on long base, highly simple & apparently not enveloped in case (?).— Growing in 54 Fathoms, some miles off Staten Land.— March 8th.—
Clytia 5th species 894 March. East Falkland Island: (PL. 11) will generally represent this Coralline.— the central living mass pursues a slightly zig-zag course, sending off rectangular branches, which bending upwards bear a cup & tentacula: it is remarkable by the
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