Trembley (see p. 57) had shown that Hydra, though an animal, multiplies
by budding like a plant. He got indications, upon which he did not
altogether rely, that it also propagated by eggs, and ten years later
(1754) this supposition was confirmed by Roesel, who figured the egg,
though he was unable to demonstrate that a young Hydra issues from it;
subsequent inquiry has placed the fact beyond doubt. In 1819 Chamisso
announced that Salpa, a well-known Tunicate which abounds at the
surface of the sea, exhibits a regular alternation of the two modes of
increase, the egg-producing form being succeeded by a budding form,
the budding form by the egg-producing form, and so on indefinitely.
Sars a few years later showed that the common jelly-fish Aurelia also
propagates by eggs and buds alternately. Here the familiar swimming
disks, which are of two sexes, produce eggs from which locomotive larva
issue. The larva at length settles down and takes a Hydra-like form.
It pushes upwards an ascending column, which divides transversely and
forms a pile of slices, each destined to become a free, sexual Aurelia.
The alternation of generations may be regarded as resulting from the
introduction of budding into the early stage of a life-history which
culminates in sexual reproduction, much as if a caterpillar were to
divide repeatedly and form more caterpillars, each of which ultimately
became a moth. The case which has been given as an illustration
actually occurs in nature. A parasitic caterpillar, that of Encyrtus,
divides while still an embryo, so that one egg produces several
moths.[35] Many other cases of alternation have since been found among
animals, and it seems to be the rule among plants.
Alternation of generations may be complicated by association with
transformation, by the omission of stages usual in the class, and by
budding-out from one part instead of from the whole body. In particular
cases the complication becomes so great that biological language breaks
down under it. Such terms as _generation_, _individual_,
_organ_, _larva_, _adult_, cannot always be used
consistently without either being strained or artificially limited.
Baer and the Development of Animals.
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