98 Mr. Patterson on the Cydippe Pomiformis. 



Beroes had been taken from the net, or while the glass vessel in which they 

 were kept was crowded by the number it contained. When, however, not more 

 than five or six were placed there, the tentacula were thrown out to their fullest 

 extent, and were occasionally above six times the longest diameter of the body. 

 In two instances they even exceeded these proportions ; for a Beroe of less than 

 five lines in diameter, exhibited them four inches in length, and one not exceed- 

 ing six lines in diameter protruded them to the extent of five inches, as actually 

 measured by a rule applied to the side of the glass vessel, from the top of which 

 the tentacula extended downwards. Dr. Grant, in the paper already quoted, 

 remarks, — " They extend from two curved tubes, placed near the sides of the 

 stomach, which pass obliquely downwards and outwards, to terminate between 

 two of the bands, at some distance above the mouth. * * * These tubes have a 

 sigmoid form, and are shut and somewhat dilated at their upper extremity." In 

 the Irish species the tubes are not curved in the form described, and their exter- 

 nal orifice is at some distance, not from the mouth, but from the anus, agreeing 

 in this particular with Blalnville's description of their position.* Tlie tentacula 

 in both " consisted of two thin white filaments, round, and tapering to a very 

 fine extremity." " Along their whole course they present," says Dr. Grant, 

 " minute equidistant filaments, extending from their lower margin, which coil 

 themselves up in a spiral manner, and adhere close to the tentacula, when they 

 are about to be withdrawn into their sheaths or tubes." The filaments were in 

 some individuals not less than half an inch in length, and of a delicate pinl^sh 

 colour ; and even so many as fifty may occasionally be reckoned on a single ten- 

 taculum. Most accurately has Dr. Grant remarked, " The tentacula are often 

 thrown out from their tubes to their full extent by one impulse, and the slow 

 uncoiling of the slender serpentine filaments from their margin, is then very 

 beautiful ; when coiled up they appeared like very minute tubercles along the 

 side of the tentaculum." Of course, in particular points of view, they presented 

 a moniliform appearance ; and sometimes, while the filaments on the upper half 

 of the tentaculum were seen under this aspect, those in the lower half were like 

 delicate hairs or cilia, waving from the edge. In this respect, however, they 

 were incessantly varying, and the tentacula, at the same time, were continually 



* Manuel d'Actinologie, p. 150. 



