28O CHAS. W. HARGITT. 



brought into direct sunlight soon closed up entirely, withdrawing 

 even the tentacles, and assuming a more or less hemispherical 

 shape. Taken from the direct light into the diffused light of the 

 room they promptly expanded and remained so until again 

 placed in the sunlight. This experiment was repeated again and 

 again, and with substantially the same results. It was also found 

 that the degree of contraction was very closely an expression of 

 the degree of light intensity. 



Many specimens were brought to the laboratory adhering to 

 small rock fragments, bits of shells, etc. In a few cases when 

 such specimens were exposed to direct light they would creep 

 over to the shaded side of the rock, and during the night return 

 to apparently the exact spot previously occupied. This might be 

 taken to suggest some such sense of position as is known to be 

 had by certain gasteropods ; but the tests were not sufficiently 

 numerous nor constant to warrant any definite statement. 



With Sagarlia lucice and Metridimn the case was very different, 

 as might be expected. Specimens of these anemones placed 

 under the same conditions as the former, indeed in many cases 

 when occupying the same aquarium, were found to be almost 

 without exception, quite indifferent to light. Placed for some 

 time under a dark hood and suddenly exposed to direct sunlight 

 there was not the slightest evidence that there was any sense of 

 the change. The experiment was made in various ways. Some- 

 times as just suggested. Again, a beam of strong light was 

 reflected directly on the specimen as it was quietly expanded on 

 the table, but so far as >S. Incice was concerned, always and with- 

 out exception, with negative results. Occasionally, though 

 always doubtfully, Metridinm would show some slight sensory 

 movements of the tentacles. But specimens have been subjected 

 to the reflection of a strong beam of light directly upon the oral 

 surface for ten minutes at a time without the slightest response. 



I have had a few specimens of Edivardsia clcgaiis in the 

 aquarium but for some reasons they did not seem at ease under 

 these conditions, and exhibited no distinct evidence of any photic 

 sensibility. I have seen but once any living specimens of Ccri- 

 antJins at Woods Holl and then only under circumstances which 

 rendered any observations impracticable. I regret therefore, 



