246 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



cember. From the 14th of that month the body of 

 the decapitated Holothuria remained stationary, rather 

 lower than the surface of the water. 



On the 25th of February, or eleven weeks sub- 

 sequent to the date of mutilation, symptoms of the 

 reproduction of the missing parts began to be appa- 

 rent, and in a little time short, transparent, regene- 

 rated tentacula were displayed, still however very im- 

 perfect in comparison with their predecessors. On 

 the 27th of the month the new tentacula were fully 

 exhibited. In another week they exceeded an inch in 

 length, and in fifteen weeks they were found to be 

 complete in every point, sweeping the water, and per- 

 forming all their natural functions, with as much 

 activity as their predecessors ! 



The Holothuria cecnus (Dalyell) exhibits a still 

 more remarkable phenomenon in the spontaneous 

 division of its body into two or even a greater number 

 of parts. Neither does this violent proceeding, as it 

 might appear, prove fatal to the specimen. On the 

 contrary indeed, the defective organs are regenerated 

 complete in each of the portions, thus speedily reno- 

 vating them into entire animals ! Two individuals of 

 the Holothuria cecnus were obtained by Sir J. Dalyell 

 from the Mar Bank; both were active. While at 

 rest they adhered by their peduncles or suckers to the 

 glass near the surface of the water : each of these, 

 after a short confinement, having apparently quarrelled 

 with itself, broke itself into two nearly equal halves 

 an act which, in ordinary cases, might have been re- 

 garded as suicidal. Instead, however, of having ren- 

 dered themselves liable to a verdict of felo de se, Sir 



