Mr Daly ell on the Propagation of Scottish Zoophytes, 89 



of the anivialcula infusoria. But under the microscope they 

 prove of diversified form, many resembling flattened pease, 

 some elongated or exhibiting irregular prominences, some al. 

 most spherical, others as if composed of two or even of three 

 unequal spheres, and some which cannot be referred to any fa- 

 miliar figure. Short cilia or stout hairs environ their circum- 

 ference, whatever be its outline, evidently instrumental, though 

 not exclusively so, in their motion. This is also much diver- 

 sified, being either progressive in a regular or irregular course, 

 by describing an orbit ; or when the body seems compounded 

 of spheres, by horizontal revolution, as on an axis, at the point 

 of union. 



If extracted artificially, the corpuscula perish within a few 

 days. But as the actinia is viviparous, discharging its young, 

 having attained maturity, by the mouth, either in the course 

 of nature or while disgorging the residue of its food,— so do 

 the corpuscula sometimes, though very rarely, accompany 

 them. 



In this manner fourteen animated beings were produced at 

 once by an actinia equina or mesembrt/anthemum, previously the 

 parent of large and perfect progeny, seven or eight months in 

 my possession. Six were the young with tentacula, and eight the 

 corpuscula just referred to ; which latter being separated and 

 set apart in different vessels, could be identified with those ex- 

 tracted from the tentacula. All were sufficiently vivacious, 

 sometimes moving, sometimes reposing ; their excursions were 

 longer or shorter, quicker or slower, regular or irregular, va- 

 rying in space and duration, but always somewhat laboured, 

 as if to overcome their own specific gravity, exceeding that of 

 the surrounding medium. 



Activity subsisted among the whole during eight days, when 

 their shape had undergone some alteration. One in particular 

 had become truncated in front ; convex, clearer, and inflated 

 behind, and exactly resembling the upper section of an ordi- 

 nary sugar-loaf. Next, their motion relaxed. Though still mere 

 specks of animated matter, inequalities might be recognised at 

 one end, while the other was smooth and convex ; and the sides 

 had attained greater transparency. The cilia disappeared, and 

 they became stationary. In eleven days from their origin, in- 



