The vault at the top, surmounted by the thighs, is as it were granulated; but at the rounding of the egg it produces a kind of mammæ, or little elevations, very round and cylindrical, intirely full; of the same nature and substance with the egg.
In examining the under part of the egg, we found a second rank of these mamellæ, somewhat longer than the first, and at equal distances from one another, in a circular line; then a third yet longer; then a fourth, which at the extremities were bifurcated; and at last a fifth rank, which divided into three, and sometimes into five, branches: these last, placed round the hole, were wreathed inwards, and several were joined together, and only formed a small body; and in wreathing themselves thus they close and embrace the pivot mentioned below. None of these mamellæ have any apparent opening: their substance is compact, of the same nature with the bladder or egg, that produces them.
Below the trunk and thighs the plant protrudes a pivot, of a like substance with that of the bladder. This pivot, which is large at its origin, proceeding thus from the trunk and thighs, forms something like the knot of the sea-tree: it descends perpendicularly to the trunk, diminishing as it lengthens, and as it grows round; and then divides into a number of mamellæ, branched and wreathed inwards so firmly, as not to be retracted; of a coriaceous nature, blackish, forming a bunch like what we call the Rose of Jericho. I cannot recollect the name of this plant or flower.
This bunch, or wreathed rose, incloses a heap of gravel, as if petrified or hardened, and ends upon a level with the hole of the egg, exactly as high as the last rank of mamellæ, which wreath upon, embrace, and sustain it, leaving always an empty space to let the sea-water pass in, which should fill the inside of the egg or bladder, and even to let in little fishes and shells.
I was surprised to find in one little living muscles, as they always are attached to some solid body by their beards. Now by what means could they enter into this egg? I conjectured, that they had their beginning there, by the seminal matter of muscles carried in by the sea-water. I also found some small star-fish, whose rays might be about four or five lines long.
If my stay here had been longer, I had continued my observations; and perhaps should have made some discoveries. It belongs to the academicians of Bourdeaux to push these observations further, if they think proper.
From the Entrance of the river of Bourdeaux, the 4th of August, 1756.
Peyssonel.