282 CHAS. \V. HARGITT. 



the esophagus. It was observed in several instances that any 

 considerable irritation of a specimen during the swallowing proc- 

 ess was almost invariably followed by a reversion and ejection 

 of the food. A worm three fourths swallowed would be ejected 

 by a sort of antiperistalsis, which was more rapid than the swal- 

 lowing had been. 



From what has just been stated it need hardly be observed 

 that attempts to feed specimens with bits of blotting paper, or 

 other such materials, were uniformly negative in character. 



The feeding experiments with other species were too limited to 

 justify any special attention in this connection. In most cases no 

 difficulty was encountered in inducing species of Sagartia to take 

 food of almost any sort. 



Bitrroi^itig Reaction. - -Attention has been directed in an 

 earlier connection to the fact that considerable variability is evi- 

 dent among various specimens as to the matter of burrowing, or 

 tube-building. It may not be without some interest to briefly 

 cite a few details along this line. It is one of the curious features 

 in the activities of Eloactis that among a dozen specimens put into 

 an aquarium the most remarkable difference of behavior in this 

 respect may be seen. Most will show early signs of activity, 

 and soon bury their bodies as completely as possible, and assume 

 an erect position. Others appear to go through, the efforts but 

 in a most futile way. Left over night the aquarium will show in 

 the tracks over the surface of the sand the varied movements 

 made^ in this way. Still other specimens seem to show no effort 

 whatever to burrow, but lie indifferently upon the surface, hardly 

 showing signs of life except as they are stimulated by some 

 means. This may continue somewhat indefinitely. But after a 

 time a change may come over one of these sluggish specimens 

 and it sets about constructing a burrow all at once, as it were, 

 and within a night will have taken up the characteristic attitude 

 of its kind. If now it be dug out and left again upon the sand it 

 may promptly readjust itself again in a burrow, or it may remain 

 for some days in the same indifferent aspect. Specimens which 

 first bury themselves are usually prompt to build fresh burrows 

 if dug out of the earlier ones. 



The facts herein portrayed suggest several interesting infer- 

 ences and inquiries by way of conclusion. 



