]78 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



at all ; and that tlie temporary organ produced by an 

 accumulation of cells in a part of the lining membrane, 

 contains both the male and female elements, although 

 i:)ossibly some indication of a separation of sexes does 

 occasionally present itself 



A proof of the great simplicity of their organisation, 

 and an argument against the separation of their sexes, 

 is seen in the fact of their being able to reproduce 

 themselves from a mere fragment. In a letter received 

 from Mr R Q. Couch, of Penzance, there is the follow- 

 ing passage : " It is said by some that the sexes in 

 these creatures are separate, but I rather think this will 

 be found not to be the case. Speaking of reproduction, 

 I may mention that the small specimen of Actinia 

 dianthiis which you saw is thriving (Mr Couch refers 

 to a tiny Actinia which had grown from a shred of the 

 base which adhered to a stone when the Dianthus was 

 torn away), and that the day you left I made four small 

 cuttings from the bases of the red and white varieties, 

 which, at the present moment, are adorned with two 

 rows of tentacles.'' And the follomng re23ort of a com- 

 munication made by Dr Strethill Wright to the Royal 

 Physical Society of Edinburgh, which is taken from the 

 Ediiihurgh Philosophical Journal, will be read with 

 great interest : — 



" The author stated that Actinia dianthus, the 

 Plumose Sea- Anemone of Daly ell, was found on the 

 shores of the Firth of Forth, generally on rocks which 

 were uncovered by the sea only at very low tides. Its 

 habitat was not extensive ; it is gregarious, great num- 



