110 SAGARTIAD^. 



under ; which discharge an ecthoramm about one and a half 

 times the length of the cnida, and densely bearded. 



Of the increase of this species I have no information, 

 unless the lacerata of Sir J. Dalyell be truly identical with 

 it. He observed that this increases by spontaneous sepa- 

 rations of portions of its base. The outline becomes irregu- 

 larly sinuous, and the prominences gradually (in the course 

 of a week or two) become pinched off, maintaining their 

 connexion only by a very slender lengthened filament, not 

 in contact with the glass, but free above it. Rupture of the 

 connecting thread at length takes place, and the independent 

 fragment develops itself into a young Anemone. The 

 laceration of the outline of the parent was always very 

 irregular and ragged. Above seventy were thus produced 

 in a year from a single adult.* 



Sir John Dalyell could never detect any embryo or germ 

 inclosed in the portion of margin about to be separated : 

 and the careful experiments of Dr. T. S. Wright appear 

 conclusively to negative that hypothesis which would thus 

 explain the mode of increase by fission of the base. From 

 an attached individual of Actinoloba dianthus, Dr. Wright 

 cut a minute piece of the base, having first ascertained, by 

 careful examination of the part, which was perfectly trans- 

 parent, that no ovum or germ existed there. The part 

 immediately receded from the parent, and in three weeks 

 had become a perfect Anemone, with long tentacles. From 

 this small one he cut two other minute slips, which also 

 assumed the perfect condition ; and from the base of the 

 original adult fourteen other slips yielded the same results. 

 From these experiments it appears that all that is essential 

 to the process is the existence of a portion of each of the 

 three elementary tissues of the animal — the tegumentary, 



* Op. cit. p. 228. 



