In order to have before us the material for a discussion of the possible
influence of natural selection on regeneration, let us first examine the
facts that bear on the question of the liability of the parts to injury
and their power to regenerate, and in this connection the questions
concerning the renewal of parts that are thrown off by the animals
themselves in response to an external stimulus are worthy of careful
consideration. A comparison between the regeneration of these parts with
that of other parts of the same animal gives also important data.
Furthermore, a comparison may be made between different parts of the
same animal, or between the same parts of different animals living under
similar or dissimilar conditions.
There are only a few cases known in which a systematic examination has
been carried out of the power of regeneration of the different parts of
the body of the same animal. Spallanzani’s results show that those
salamanders that can regenerate their fore legs can regenerate their
hind legs also. Towle, who has examined in my laboratory the
regeneration of a number of American newts and salamanders, finds also
that both the fore and hind legs regenerate in the same forms. The tail
and the external gills, in those newts with gills, also regenerate. It
has also been shown in triton that the eye regenerates if a portion of
the bulb is left. Broussonet first showed (1786) that the fins of fish
have the power to regenerate, although, strangely enough, Fraisse and
Weismann state that very little power of regeneration is present in the
fins of fish. I have found that the fins of several kinds of fish
regenerate, belonging to widely different families.[41] In _Fundulus
heteroclitus_ I have found that the pectoral, pelvic, caudal, anal, and
dorsal fins have the power of regeneration. In reptiles the feet do not
regenerate,--at least no cases are known,--but the tail of lizards has
this power well developed. In birds neither the wings nor the feet
regenerate, but Fraisse has described the case of a stork in which, the
lower jaw being broken off, and the upper being cut off at the same
level, both regenerated. Bordage has recorded the regeneration of the
beak of the domesticated fighting cocks (of the Malay breed) of
Mauritius. In the mammals neither the legs, nor the tail, nor the jaws
regenerate, although several of the internal organs, as described in the
next chapter, have extensive powers of regeneration.
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