110 
SAGARTIAD^. 
under ; which discharge an ecthorceum about one and a half 
times the length of the cnida, and densely bearded. 
Of the increase of this species I have no information, 
unless the lacerata of Sir J. Dalyell be truly identical with 
it. He observed that this increases by spontaneous sepa- 
rations of portions of its base. The outline becomes irregu- 
larly sinuous, and the prominences gradually (in the course 
of a week or two) become pinched off, maintaining their 
connexion only by a very slender lengthened filament, not 
in contact with the glass, hut free above it. Rupture of the 
connecting thread at length takes place, and the independent 
fragment ^develops itself into a young Anemone. The 
laceration of the outline of the parent was always very 
irregular and ragged. Above seventy were thus produced 
in a year from a single adult.* 
Sir John Dalyell could never detect any embryo or germ 
inclosed in the portion of margin about to be separated : 
and the careful experiments of Dr. T. S. Wright appear 
conclusively to negative that hypothesis which would thus 
explain the mode of increase by fission of the base. From 
an attached individual of Actinoloha dianthus, Dr. Wright 
cut a minute piece of the base, having first ascertained, by 
careful examination of the part, which was perfectly trans- 
parent, that no ovum or germ existed there. The part 
immediately receded from the parent, and in three weeks 
had become a perfect Anemone, with long tentacles. From 
this small one he cut two other minute slips, which also 
assumed the perfect condition ; and from the base of the 
original adult fourteen other slips yielded the same results. 
From these experiments it appears that all that is essential 
to the process is tlie existence of a portion of each of the 
tliree elementary tissues of the animal — the tegumentary. 
* Op. cit. p. 228. 
