LvcERHAiuJF.. Z. HELIANTHOIDA. 233 



muscular nature, rise up within the peduncle, dividing at the expan- 

 sion of the l»ody, into eight distinct fasciculi, one proceeding to each 

 arm. These fasciculi are composed of long parallel fibres, are analo- 

 gous to the lamella} of the Actinia), and like them divide the body 

 into eight equal compartments, for the inner fold of the corium is in- 

 timately connected with them on both sides. The vermiform caeca 

 lie in these compartments ; and the ova appear also to be generated 

 in them, but whether they have an appropriate ovary is doubtful. A 

 specimen which had undergone a certain degree of putrefaction and 

 dissolution exhibited these ova forming a complete circle round the 

 mouth with rows running up the arms to the base of the tentacula. 

 (Fig. 36.) The ova were proportionably large, roundish or oval (Fig. 

 36, d), and irregularly grouped. The change produced in the appear- 

 ance of the tentacula was considerable, for the globular apex had dis- 

 appeared, and all had assumed a linear or conical figure (Fig. e), — the 

 centre filled with an opake granular matter forming a dark speck at 

 the apex, and covered with a clear mucous skin. The vesicle pre- 

 sented precisely the same structure, but no apertui'e was visible in 

 either part. 



The Lucernarise can swim with some rapidity in the water by al- 

 ternate dilatations and contractions of the body, but they are usually 

 found adherent to sea-weeds, the first species in a dependent position, 

 the two latter invariably erect, so that Lamarck is in error when he 

 describes the mouth as being inferior. When in a state of expan- 

 sion, few marine worms exceed them in beauty and singularity of 

 form ; when contracted they are shapeless and easily overlooked. 

 They feed on small crustaceous animals brought within reach by the 

 tide or their own destiny,* and to arrest them more certainly the ten- 



" Lamouroux asserts that L. campaniilata perceives its prey wlien within a 

 short distance and pursues it. His words are — " J'avois la precaution de chan- 

 ger I'eau de mes Lucernaires deux fois par jour ; dans un vase qui ne contenoit 

 qu'un de ces animaux, ce dernier executa des mouvements qui me parurent ex- 

 traordinaires dans un etre d'un consistance aussi molle, immediatement apres 

 que j'y eus de I'eau nouvelle ; avec la loupe je m'aper^us que ces mouvcmens 

 etoient causes par la presence d'un animalcule que la Lucernaire sembloit i)ur- 

 suivre en se portant a droite et a gauche, pour taclier de le saisir ; toutes les 

 fois qu'il s'eloignoit a la distance d'environ lui pouce, la Lucernaire cessoit tout 

 mouvement ; s'il se rapprochoit, la chasse recommen9oit de suite, et les mouve- 

 mens etoient vifs et prompts : I'animalcule fut enfin saisi par les tcntacides d'un 

 dcs rayons, qui a I'instant se replie vers la bouche ; les autrcs rostercnt tou- 

 jours etales ; ce rayon reprit pen a pen sa position ordinaire, M'utant procure 

 d'autres animalcules, je les donnai a mes Lucernaires, et j'cus le plaisir de voir 

 leurs mouvemens se repcter avec les memes circonstances." Mem. du Mus. ii. 

 4G4. 



