Wound Reparation—A ctinian Tentacles 203 
This- experiment was made upon five tentacles, with similar 
results in all cases. 
This behavior of cut tentacles constitutes a very definite reaction 
to wounding and one which must have a certain protective value 
to the entire organism. Is this reaction purely a local matter— 
is it effected exclusively by the tissue which bends in to close the 
cut end and form the nipple, or, upon the contrary, is it dependent 
in some way upon the organism as a whole? What will happen at 
the distal cut end of a tentacle which has previously been severed 
from the column? 
Experiments similar to the one about to be described were 
repeated many times and with very uniform results. ‘The case 
described in detail is a typical one. A large well extended ten- 
tacle of Condylactis was selected and by means of a single quick 
clip of the scissors it was severed, near its base, from the column 
of the actinian. As it fell to the bottom of the aquarium the de- 
tached tentacle collapsed, owing to the release of the internal 
pressure, and contracted to about one-half its original length and 
diameter. At the proximal cut end of the severed tentacle the 
walls almost immediately bent inward slightly so as to diminish 
somewhat the size of the opening and this inbending soon became 
marked by much wrinkling and puckering, being in that respect 
very unlike the closing of the wall as observed at the distal cut end 
of an attached stump of tentacle. ‘The behavior of a proximal cut 
end will, however, be considered further in another connection 
and now we are especially concerned with the comparison of the 
behavior of distal cut ends of attached and detached tentacles. As 
soon as possible after the detached tentacle had settled upon the 
bottom of the aquarium it was cut transversely and about midway 
of its length. The distal portion showed only slight additional 
contraction in response to this second cut and remained motion- 
less on the floor of the aquarium. ‘The proximal piece, however, 
contracted until its length was no greater than its diameter. 
Further, it became very much wrinkled and distorted, and in this 
shapeless condition it writhed and contorted itself almost con- 
tinuously for a half minute, then gradually became quiet and 
