Miscellaneous. 497 



formation of two or several prolongations, often very long and even 

 branched, returning subsequently to the round form which it had at 

 the commencement. This movement, which is constantly observed 

 in all these cells, although slow, is nevertheless pretty strong, and I 

 have even several times observed cells which changed their position 

 by the formation of processes, the whole presenthig a considerable 

 resemblance to the movement of an Actinophrys or Amoeba. As in 

 these animals, the contents of the cells also took part in the move- 

 ment, and it was easy to see that these granulations passed sometimes 

 into the processes, returning afterwards into the body of the cells, so 

 that the change of form of the cells is accompanied by a movement 

 of all the parts of which they consist, which may probably be inti- 

 mately connected with the chemical and vital phaenomena which are 

 accompHshed in these cells as well as in all the others. 



Having observed these movements, it occurred to me that it was 

 possible that many stellate cells exhibited similar movements, espe- 

 cially as something of the same kind has already been seen in the 

 pigmentary cells of the Frog, and I set myself to examine the plasmatic 

 cells or corpuscles of the conjunctive tissue. As these observations 

 were made during the last days of my stay at Nice, I cannot give 

 them the extent which I desired ; however, I was fortunate enough 

 to see that the plasmatic cells of the gelatinous conjunctive tissue of 

 the head of the Torpedo, and the stellate cells of the gelatinous sub- 

 stance of the body of Cassiopeia borbonicay also exhibit movements 

 similar to those which I have just described, and I do not doubt that 

 it will be found that this phsenomenon has a considerable extent, 

 and even some physiological importance. — Comptes Rendus, Oct. 27, 

 1856, p. 794. 



Description of a New Species of Actim& from the Devonshire Coast. 

 By E. W. H. HoLDSwoRTH. 



When contracted, the body forms a rounded button about | of an 

 inch in diameter, but in full expansion it is generally elongated to 

 the extent of 2^ inches, and terminates in a somewhat cup-shaped 

 disk about H inch wide, and having its extended edges frequently 

 thrown into irregular festoons. The tentacula, about 150 in number, 

 are arranged in four or five series, as in most of the group to which 

 this species belongs ; the first row contains twenty-five arms, about 

 half the length of the diameter of the disk, and moderately stout ; 

 the others gradually diminish in size as they proceed outwards, their 

 numbers at the same time increasing ; but the irregular manner in 

 which they are placed renders it difficult to enumerate the contents, 

 or to determine the limits of any one of the series. The disk is of a 

 uniform olive-brown without any superficial markings,— the appear- 

 ance of radiating lines, sometimes visible, being only the upper edges 

 of the internal septa showing through the transparent skin ; the 

 mouth opens transversely, and displays a regular crenation of its 

 pink lining membrane. The tentacula are of a reddish purple, and 

 entirely destitute of rings or other marking ; they present a remark- 



Ann. 6f Mag. N, Hist. Ser. 2. Vol xviii. 33 



