20 
SAGARTIAD^. 
perfect though minute Anemones. Occasionally a separated 
piece, more irregularly jagged than usual, will, in contract- 
ing, constringe itself, and form two smaller fragments, 
united by an isthmus, which goes on attenuating until 
a fine thread-like line only is stretched from one to the 
other ; this at length yields, the substance of the broken 
thread is rapidly absorbed into the respective pieces, which 
soon become two young dianthuses. 
It is to this tendency to spontaneous division that I 
would attribute the frequent occurrence in this species of 
monstrosity, such as two disks uniting into a single column. 
This is very common. Dr. Johnston supposes that such 
cases are produced by the coalescence of two individuals 
which happened to be in contact, and he accounts for its 
frequency by the gregarious habit of the species.* The 
possibility of two individuals thus uniting, remains, how- 
ever, to be proved ; while the fissiparous habit, which is 
patent, is quite sufficient to produce the phenomenon. 
I have been informed of a case, in which a young one 
was produced by gemmation from the base of the adult, 
without previous separation of the fragment. 
When erect, and fully distended with water, the integu- 
ments and tissues become translucent, and, in parts, even 
transparent. In this condition, when favourably placed, — 
as when in front of a window, or with a candle just behind 
it, — an excellent opportunity is afforded of examining the 
internal arrangement of the organs, free from the confusion 
which the excessive contraction consequent upon dissection 
induces. The septa are seen stretching away into the general 
cavity, and the acontia lying in many coils along the inter- 
septs ; while ever and anon a minute coiled fragment, torn 
from some acontium, is seen driven to and fro along the 
* Br. Zoopli. 2nd Ed., 233. 
