ACTINIA. 217 



front enlarged, fig. 6. When the increment of this young animal had 

 advanced so far that on September 13, the divergence of the tentacula 

 was equal to three lines between the opposite tips, they had become regu- 

 lar and symmetrical. But the creature had then grown very pale, almost 

 white. A circle of Prussian blue environed the base on October 11, 

 when the mouth was also tinged. In three weeks longer, its skin, beauti- 

 fully studded green, had attained the natural hue. — Plate XL VII. fig. 1. 

 The tubercles, however, were not very conspicuous, eleven months from 

 its origin. But, before being a year old, embryos appeared in the ten- 

 tacula, though none attained such maturity as to be produced until Oc- 

 tober 14. Therefore, this young Actinia did not begin to breed before it 

 was between fourteen and fifteen months old. In the course of four years, 

 its progeny amounted to 64. The green speckling of the skin remained 

 still conspicuous, and it had become a fine specimen, fig. 7 ; but soon 

 afterwards it perished accidentally. 



An embryo of the Actinia, therefore, extracted artificially from the 

 parent, may survive uninjured, and prove prolific. 



Monstrosities. — Nearly the fortieth part of the 334 young produced 

 by the specimen, Plate XLV., consisted of monstrous animals, the mon- 

 strosity being rather by redundance than defect. But the same propor- 

 tion has not prevailed among other specimens : it has been smaller. 

 Neither has it been as great among its own later offspring as among the 

 earlier. 



One was distinguished by two mouths of unequal dimensions in the 

 same disc, environed by a profusion of tentacula. Each mouth fed inde- 

 pendently of its fellow, and the whole system seemed to derive benefit 

 from the repast of either. In three years this monster became a fine speci- 

 men : its numerous tentacula were disposed in four rows, whereas only 

 three characterize the species ; and the tubercles, of vivid purple, regular, 

 and prominent, at that time amounted to twenty-eight. It had now pro- 

 duced twenty-eight young, having commenced breeding when between 

 thirteen and fourteen months old. Many more issued from it afterwards, 

 seven in one night, and fifteen in another. This double-mouthed Actinia 

 survived within a month of five years.— Plate XLVII. fig. 3. 



VOL. II. 2 E 



