THE REGENERATION OF GONIONEMA. 9 



ever, the fusion was complete in two to four days. During the 

 process of healing the cut edge of the margin usually drew up 

 somewhat, so that when the fusion was complete there was a scal- 

 lop or notch in the margin of the bell. The ends of the marginal 

 canal fused and a new radial canal formed along the line of union 

 of the cut edges of the bell. This new canal elongated and the 

 notch in the margin gradually disappeared. Morgan in describ- 

 ing a similar experiment says, " Along the line where the cut 

 edges fused together a scar is present that resembles somewhat a 

 third canal, but the third canal did not develop." While in his 

 experiments this may have been the case, my own show con- 

 clusively the development of a third canal. Hargitt, '99, refers to 

 the formation of new canals though he did not demonstrate their 

 functional activity. Along the line of fusion of the cut edges a 

 deposition of pigment is present which might be mistaken for a 

 scar unless carefully examined. At first it is perhaps not a func- 

 tional canal, but two or three days after the fusion the movement 

 of the chymiferous fluid in the new canal was plainly observed, 

 not only by myself but by others to whom it was pointed out. 

 Furthermore in the closing of the bell, when the oral half had 

 been removed, no sign of a scar or pigmentation was found. 

 Such a scar or pigmented line, therefore, is not simply the sign 

 of the fusion of cut edges, but represent the regeneration of a 

 new organ along what is probably the line of least resistance. 



This experiment was varied by cutting out one quadrant with 

 its radial canal, leaving three canals, three quarters of the num- 

 ber of tentacles and the manubrium or a part of the manubrium. 

 The fusion of the cut sides took place in about the same time as 

 in the preceding experiment, though the incidental protrusion of 

 the manubrium through the opening and the consequent delay in 

 healing was more marked. On the fourth day the fusion was 

 complete and a new canal had formed. Fig. 10 shows the new 

 canal at a, the scallop in the margin is also shown. The latter 

 gradually disappeared as in the former experiment and the bell 

 margin became quite symmetrical. 



The development of gonads on the new canal did not take 

 place while the specimens were under observation. This would 

 undoubtedly occur somewhat slowly if at all. This, however, is 



