24 Coelenterata. 



longer axes are at right angles to that of the body. In the largest elongated 

 specimen there are 3 large mouths whose longer axis corresponds with that 

 of the disc. The smaller mouths vary in number from 3 to 12. Each mouth 

 (large and small) opens into a separate stomodseum. The larger central stomo- 

 dsea may have 1 or 2 siphouoglyphs, but never more than one was found in 

 the smaller stomodsea. In larger specimens the mesenteries show a general 

 grouping around the large central stomodsea and a subordinate grouping around 

 the more peripheral smaller ones. A pair of directives was connected with 

 each of the smaller stomoda3a and 1 or 2 pairs with each of the larger ones. 

 The multiplicity of stomodsea denotes an imperfect division which is evidently 

 a normal occurrence, and is peculiar in the production of a number of small 

 peripheral stomodsea in addition to 2 or more central ones. The author inclines 

 to the view that the peripheral mouths have not been formed in situ, but 

 that the original stomodseum was polyglyphic and that most of the siphono- 

 glyphs , and small neighbouring parts of the stornodsea, separated at an early 

 stage carrying with them their own directives and 1 or 2 pairs of the neigh- 

 bouring mesenteries. This view is supported by the following facts (1) small 

 mouths are occasionally found in close relation to the larger ones, having 

 probably only recently separated, (2) the mesenteries associated with these 

 small mouths are not restricted to the level of their stomodsea, but run to the 

 lower part of the column, (3) in this latter region the mesenteries are arranged 

 with reference to the larger stomodsea only, the smaller subordinate groupings 

 being confined to the upper part of the column. In Hormathia exlex n. the 

 mesenteries depart from the hexamerous arrangement. There were 3 cycles 

 in one specimen arranged on a heptamerous plan and in the other on an 

 octamerous plan, in the latter specimen each alternate pair of primary mesen- 

 teries formed directives. In one specimen of Cribrina herniajjhroditica each 

 fertile mesentery contained ova and sperms. In 2 other specimens embryos 

 were found in the ccelenteron ; in one of these specimens a few scattered ova 

 occurred in some of the fertile mesenteries but sperms were much more abundant, 

 in the other specimen sperms only were found in the mesenteries. These 

 specimens seem to be protogynous hermaphrodites. The author also describes 

 the characters and structure of Helianthus 1 n., Gyrostoma 2 n., Parantheopsisu. 

 (fam. Actiniidae) 2, Paractis 3 (2 n.), Pycnanthus 1, Actinostola 1 n. (the single 

 specimen in the collection is hermaphrodite), Antholoba 1, Bolocereopsis n. (fam. 

 Boloceridae) 1 n., Phymactis 1, Sagartia 2 (1 n.), Choriactis n. (subfam. Sagar- 

 tiinae) 2 (1 n.), Metridium 1 n., Aiptasia 1, Hormathia 1 n. [see above], Chito- 

 tianthus 1 n., Oribrina 3 (2 n.), Corynactis 1, Epixoanthus 1, Parazoanthus 1 n. 



Ashworth & Annandale record observations on 16 specimens of Sagartia 

 troglodytes which have lived in captivity for about 50 years. These have been 

 very prolific, but now breed either sparingly or not at all. These old specimens 

 are more strongly affected by unfavourable conditions than are younger speci- 

 mens and are longer in recovering when conditions become again favourable. 

 S. t. apparently takes 3 years (at any rate in aquaria) to reach maturity. 

 Details are given of Dalyell's specimen of Actinia mesembryanthemum which 

 reached the age of 66 years, and of certain unpublished observations by Stanley 

 Gardiner on corals. G. finds that specimens of Flabellum which are nearing 

 the end of their reproductive powers and probably also near the end of life 

 are about 24 years old. Certain large colonies of Maldivan corals ( Goniastrcca, 

 Prionastr&a, Orbieella and Pocillopora] which seemed to be dying were estimated 

 to be from 22 to 28 years old. 



Burger found that of 60 specimens of the hermit-crab, Hepatus chilensis, 



