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tentacula, where tliey are frequently found, or into the sto- 

 mach. On many occasions, when forcil)ly pressing the A. 

 Mc.semhryanthcnnim, several of the young have been forced 

 through the tentacula. The ova which are yellowish, arc 

 clothed with cilia, and become frequently developed into the 

 polype internally. It would be out of place here, and tend to 

 increase the size of this work too much, to enter into tliis 

 and several other particulars more minutely. As they would 

 be of interest only to the Anatomist and Physiologist they 

 are passed lightly over. The first and most common mode 

 of reproduction is by ova, the second by budding, as is ob- 

 served only in the Zoanthus. In this genus the trailing fleshy 

 band which connects the different polypes becomes enlarged 

 at intervals into papillary eminences, and afterwards becomes 

 developed into polypes. 



Another mode of reproduction sometimes takes place by 

 division. Having kept some specimens of A. dianthus in 

 confinement, it was found that they would occasionally 

 divide at the base, and the division would proceed upwards 

 to the oral disc. In this state they look just like what the 

 Abbe Dicquemare describes as the union of two individuals 

 from contact. Possibly such an union may take place, as 

 they are so gregarious as to be actually in contact, and 

 double mostrosities occur at birth; but I have not seen it. 

 The Zoanthus Couchii is the only compound species of our 

 shores. It may be characterized as a number of small actiniae 

 united at their bases by a trailing fleshy band. It is a very 

 limited genus and till the discovery of a species on our shores 

 a short time since, had no representative in Europe. 



The next genus Lucernaria is a remarkably pretty one, and 

 from its activity and transparency, a very interesting one. 

 In form, it very closely resembles the old fashioned conoidal 

 wine glasses; having a round disc-like base, a round columnar 

 stalk, which terminates superiorly in a free campanulate 

 expansion ; around the margin of which are eight separate 

 tufts of tentacula. I never could find that Lamouroux' asser- 

 tion, that they perceived their pre}' at a distance and pursued 

 it, was correct, though I have watched many scores in their 

 natural situations for that purpose. They only seem conscious 

 of the presence of food when it impinges on the tentacula. 

 The ova are developed about April, May, and June, either in 

 loops from tuft to tuft, or in lines from the tentacula to the 

 base, and are frequently there united in pairs. They are 

 subject to a great many variations of colour but are generaily 

 brownish, brownish-green or biowni^^^h-red. Tiieir food con- 

 sists chiefly of small crustaceans. 



The only calcareous species we have, is the comparatively 

 insignificant one, the Caryophyllia Smithii. It is cojiiuion at 



I 



