212 



Records of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. X 



identity of the animal and to publish a further note along with 

 figures. -^ Ramunni Menon. 



Preuminary Note on the Metamorphosis of Zoanthella. 

 — Two species of larvae of Zoanthella and one of Zoanthina occur 

 at Madras. During Februar}^- April of last year, I obtained several 

 specimens of one of the Zoanthellas and kept them in sea-water. 

 They fixed themselves to the bottoms of glass vessels and sprout- 

 ed tentacles and it has been possible to rear them successfully. 

 I have nine of last 5'ear's lot living at present, and some of them 

 at the time of writing are more than thirteen months old. The 

 largest specimen measures, when moderately extended, one inch 



%^'%.\ 



Fiei-4, 



Fir^.l "IP- 





^9-3. x'i. 





in length and about half an inch across the peristome from 

 edge to edge. It has now fifty tentacles. The same specimen 

 had thirty tentacles at the end of July, 1913- The tentacles 

 are in two cycles of alternately long and short and in the extended 

 condition are held alternately raised and depressed. In the larger 

 of the remaining specimens, the numbers of tentacles are 42, 44, 

 46, and 48. The accompanying figures show the animal in vari- 

 ous changes of form. The animal is attached by a short peduncle 

 the area of attachment at the end of which is very small ; some of 

 the specimens which have accidentally become detached do not fix 

 themselves again. The column is opaque white with a tinge of 

 yellowish brown, the peristome is clearer and translucent with 

 light brown radiating lines and the tentacles are grey to light 



