. Rare and remarkable animals of Scotland, represented from living subjects: with practical observations on their nature. the Plumatella,the repots and the reptans. I can speak only of the former; for if there be actually two, it hasnot been my fortune to see both. Much is certainly due to age and posi-tion. In general, the Plumatella repens occurs of small dimensions, for themost part formed like a branch, and always as adhering to some more solidsubstance. But a perfect specimen, of great luxuriance, and of ample dimensions,seems to diffuse originally rather from a central point, and finally
. Rare and remarkable animals of Scotland, represented from living subjects: with practical observations on their nature. the Plumatella,the repots and the reptans. I can speak only of the former; for if there be actually two, it hasnot been my fortune to see both. Much is certainly due to age and posi-tion. In general, the Plumatella repens occurs of small dimensions, for themost part formed like a branch, and always as adhering to some more solidsubstance. But a perfect specimen, of great luxuriance, and of ample dimensions,seems to diffuse originally rather from a central point, and finally adoptingsuch a superficial figure, as the proportional vigour of the parts shall haveregulated. If this be true, considerable difference of form will ensue from thevegetative power being stronger at certain points than at others. The finest of all specimens are seen on stones. Of these an admi-rable example occurred near a ruinous mansion called Fenton Tower, inthe county of Haddington, about twenty-one miles east of Edinburgh, forwhich I was indebted to that same affectionate companion of my excur- (.//. FZ. • ,//■/ PLUMATELLA. 125 sions already noted, who takes the liveliest interest in all my pursuits, andwho values the beauties of Nature as demonstrations of the Divine essencevouchsafed to the gaze of admiring mankind. This fine specimen spread in adhesion over a stone bare of all othervegetation. Its diffusion was such that it might have been bounded by aquadrangle of four inches above, besides descending so much over one endof the stone, that the whole area it occupied would have equalled twelveor fourteen square inches. Nothing could surpass its luxuriance. Atleast 1200 vivacious hydrse decorated the extremities of this wonderfulproduct.—Plate XXXI. .No description can adequately convey the appearance which so beau-tiful an object presents to the view of the spectator. In the immediate vicinity of Fenton Tower, are some old quarry holesof limited extent, fu
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1848
