218 ZOOPHYTES. 



Another and more frequent kind of monstrosity, consists of two 

 bodies united after various fashions, according to the specimen : or in their 

 being sustained by one common base. This occurred in no less than four 

 of the progeny of the specimen, Plate XLV., — all produced within six 

 weeks. Each body is then provided with its own external organs, suffi- 

 ciently numerous ; and each having its own single mouth in the centre of 

 its disc. 



Of these four, one extracted from a tentaculum, became very vigo- 

 rous, prolific in time, and it perished after surviving about three years : 

 other two perished in the same manner, after proving prolific. The fourth, 

 of similar conformation, was of fine red colour, but grew pale in a month, 

 though afterwards acquiring the ordinary hue. A sensible disparity of 

 size at first distinguished the two bodies, which diminished with age, render- 

 ing them of more equality. All blue parts were vivid in four months, and 

 in six, the triple row of tentacula peculiar to the species, environed each 

 disc of this monstrous specimen. It will be recollected, that there is ori- 

 ginally only a single row, more or less numerous. Now, the colour was 

 light, the circumferential ring of the base of beautiful blue. The tubercles 

 were conspicuous, but neither large nor vivid. Embryos appeared long 

 before maturity in the tentacula ; — the first of large size, and almost 

 white, being produced when the creature was exactly a year old. In the 

 course of three years, its progeny amounted to sixty. These were pro- 

 duced at very irregular intervals, and the disparity among them was great. 

 Whether one of the bodies was more prolific than the other, could not be 

 ascertained. Nor was an accurate account of the subsequent progeny 

 presei^ved. 



This animal survived ten years. It had become fine and vigorous 

 when delineated at the age of six. Some green speckling of the skin con- 

 tinued visible in the course of the seventh year. — Plate XLVI. fig. 3. 



A monstrous young Actinia, whereof the two bodies exhibited much 

 disparity of size, was taken at Eyemouth, and it survived several years. — 

 Plate XLVI. fig. 5. 



Although the colour of the Actinia is not dependent on the season, 

 it is subject to alteration, either from the state of the skin, or from other 



