On the Embryology of Asteracanthion Violaceus (L.)

ABSTRACT Saks, in his wonderfully suggestive ‘Beskrivelser,’ &c., published in Bergen in 1835, threw the first ray of light upon the structure of the singular provisional appendages which have been since found to accompany the embryonic condition of most, if not all, of the Echinoderms. We are indebted to the same naturalist for several subsequent communications on the same Subject; the most important a detailed description* of the early stages in the development of Echinaster sanguinolentus (Müller), and a shorter notice of the same process in Asteracanthivn Mülleri (Sars). These observations are so well known, that I need only refer to them briefly.