THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SHORE-ANEMONE 315 



copious secretion of mucus from the surface of the tentacles 

 and also from the gastrovascular cavity. The anemone con- 

 tracted strongly as the result of the stimulus, but in a short 

 time expanded. The tentacles were coated with mucus, some 

 of them tending to remain in bunches as a result. Application 

 of contact stimulus showed that they were practically insensi- 

 tive to stimulation of this character. Many of the tentacles 

 hung flaccidly over the edge of the disk. 



As far as possible, the mucus was removed entirely from the 

 disk and tentacles, and the animals placed in a dish of fresh 

 sea water. Pieces of oyster given to the tentacles were per- 

 sistently refused, though when placed over the mouth opening 

 they were slowly accepted. In a few hours the tentacles were 

 observed to again become responsive to contact stimuli. After 

 a varying period of from one to three days, all of the specimens 

 had so far become recuperated as to readily accept food given 

 to the tentacles. 



Next a rather strong solution of peptonoids was forced into 

 the gastrovascular cavity of several specimens with much the 

 same results as were secured in the case of beef juice. A con- 

 centrated oyster extract obtained from macerating fresh oysters 

 was tried, the tentacles in this case showing the same flaccidity 

 and excessive mucus secretion as in the case of the beef extract, 

 though to a less degree. This lessened degree of secretion was 

 evidenced in the relative quantity of mucus secreted as the 

 result of injection, as well as by the earlier recovery of the 

 individuals so treated. After a period of about one day, pro- 

 vided the animals were kept in a cool room, the tentacles of 

 most of the specimens had become thoroughly responsive and 

 would accept food offered them. 



Parker (1905) in his work on the reversal of ciliary action in 

 Metridium records that a copious secretion of mucus was one 

 of the results produced by the application of a potassium chlo- 

 ride solution of sufficient strength to cause reversal of ciliary 

 movement in the region of the mouth of the anemone. This 

 suggested the idea that there might be a number of chemicals 

 producing a similar effect, and the results of an investigation 

 into the effects of several solutions of varying strengths and 

 composition are given below. 



