206 ZOOPHY*TES. 



The Actinia mesembryanthemum is a genuine hermaphrodite, at least 

 in the ordinary acceptation of that character. There are some learned 

 men, indeed, so averse to admit the possibility of progeny being derived 

 from a single parent, that they resort more to hypothesis than to demon- 

 stration, for the sake of establishing their opinions. Thence they endea- 

 vour to find the actual functions of two in one, rather from illusion than 

 reality. In the Actinia, each solitary individual bears the elements of its 

 offspring in its own body, which, brought to maturity, is produced by the 

 mouth. 



By the word hermaphrodite, it is not necessary to understand that 

 such a union of animal organization is indispensable, as, by concourse of 

 different parts of that organization, being should be given to an individual 

 of the race ; there is no reason why a germ, — an organism should not 

 be derived from the parent, which shall develope into complete form, more 

 than that some organic part of the parent's body shall originate or be re- 

 paired from some analogous source, though the derivation of the elements 

 of the offspring from a single individual should be through some physiolo- 

 gical process yet unknown. The origin of animals is the most mysterious 

 part of the operations of the Divine Power for preservation of the uni- 

 verse. 



There are several obscurities involved in the perpetuation of the 

 Actinia which require elucidation, and especially such as might explain 

 the place and description of the ova. 



But I am compelled to advance per saltum, and to view the offspring 

 in a state of farther progress. 



The Actinia is always disposed to affix itself to the side of its vessel, 

 preserving the body in a horizontal position. Then, while the tentacula 

 are vigorously displayed, a number of dark substances may be occasion- 

 ally seen in the tentacula forming the lower half of the circle, but none 

 are found in the distended tentacula of the upper half. The observer 

 having enumerated ten, fifteen or twenty occupying the tentacula, may 

 miss a portion of them, or even the whole, on returning to inspection after 

 a brief interval ; all have disappeared, nor may he ever see them again. 



Under favourable circumstances, however, minute corpuscula, as well 



