392 Trai inactions. 



to the complete formation of the last daughter organism, occupied about 

 seven weeks. In addition to this, a bud appeared, at an early stage, on the 

 foot of what became the last-formed organism. This bud increased in size, 

 and a constriction began to be formed, cutting it off from the parent. This 

 illustrates the process of pedal gemmation mentioned by Farquhar. The 

 method of asexual reproduction which I have called " lateral fission " 

 appears to be different from any of those described in the " Cambridge 

 Natural History," and it also appears to differ from the method called by 

 Delage and Herouard (p. 476) " scissiparite longitudinale." It is an interest- 

 ing fact that during the process of fission ova were released and developed 

 into embryos about \ mm. in height. This nascent colony would doubtless 

 have yielded interesting results, but it was unfortunately destroyed through 

 the neglect of a laboratory attendant, who allowed the water to be polluted 

 by dead molluscs. The drawings illustrating the process described above 

 are only diagrammatic " ground-plans," as it were. (Fig. 12.) 



Fam. PHYLLACTID.^. 



" Hexactinice with simple conical tentacles at some distance from the 

 apparent margin ; between them and the margin are low tentacu^lar or 

 foliose structures (fronds). Sphincter endodermal, more or less circu.mscribed, 

 lying in the interval between the tentacles and the frondose or tentacular 

 structures. From two to several cycles of mesenteries perfect." 



Genus Cradactis (McMurrich). 



" Ph/IlactidcB with, the fronds represented by bunches of simple or slightly 

 branched, short, tentacle-like structures. Sphincter aggregated or circum- 

 scribed. Column with verrucse." 



16. Cradactis plicatus (nom. nov.), Hutton. 



This anemone was first described by Hutton as Oulactis plicatus. He 

 described the margin of the disc, when expanded, as " thrown into five 

 deep folds." Though I have observed raany specimens, both in their natural 

 home and in an aquarium, I have been unable to observe this feature. At 

 the same time, I have no doubt as to the identity of the species. Hutton 

 placed this anemone in the genus Oulactis, but I have been led by the character 

 of its fronds to place it in McMurrich's genus Cradactis. 



Pedal-disc. — Adherent and somewhat thin, the insertions of the mesen- 

 teries being plainly visible through its substance. AVhen removed from 

 the rocks the " flange " round the base becomes very noticeable. The 

 ectoderm is comparatively thick, and is curiously strengthened by strands 

 of mesoglcea which in places appear to have lost their connection with the 

 main part of the mesogloea. These strands are not fibrous like the rest of 

 the mesogloea, in which the fibrous structure is particularly noticeable. 



Column. — This is cylindrical, generally wider than high, and with only a 

 slightly expanded lower portion. Verrucse are present, arranged in vertical 

 rows. They are absent on the lower part of the column. The upper ver- 

 ruc3e act as suckers, by means of which the animal covers itself with stones 

 and shells, so that, when retracted, it resembles a small pile of stones. 

 The colour of the column is yellowish-brown, passing into dirty v/hite below. 

 The mesogloea is prolonged into the ectoderm in pinnate processes. These 

 are arranged in regular vertical rows corresponding to the verrucse. 



Tentacles and Fronds. — The simple tentacles are conical, and are more 

 than the radius of the disc in length when the whole animal is fully expanded. 



