Actiniaria.] SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 385 



mesenteries may be wanting. It not infrequently happens that the mesenteries of a 

 secondary pair are united near the free edge. Sometimes thc^ adjoining mesenteries 

 of two secondary pairs may be united (Plate XX, fig. 2). Tlie first condition 

 K. Hertwig(2) has noted in the directives of Phellia pectinata, the second he has 

 found in Tealia himodifornds. Here, as in Hertwig's cases, mesenterial filaments 

 are wanting along the united edges ; but they are not infrequently wanting in other 

 cases also. 



From the wall of the stomodaeum there project towards the body-wall unevenly 

 distributed false mesenteries, suggesting the condition of things found in the Zoan- 

 thidae. Each of these bears its mesenterial filament, giving a trefoil in cross- 

 section (Plate XX, fig. 1). Further investigation is needed to elucidate the origin 

 of these and their relation to the ordinary mesenteries. 



From the stomodaeum there are extensive invaginations directed downwards 

 into the gastro-vascular cavity, and frequently piercing several mesenteries. In a 

 cross-section these usually appear as irregular chambers supported by the mesen- 

 teries. They are lined by ectoderm witliout nematocysts, l)ut al)undantly ciliated 

 (Plate XIX, and Plate XX, fig. 1). 



Spermaries or ovaries occur on several, but apparently not on all, of the 

 secondary mesenteries. Their position is beyond the muscle banner and behind 

 the mesenterial filament. In specimens in which ovaries were found these were 

 enormously developed. There is no clear evidence that the animal is in the ordinary 

 sense hermaphrodite, seeing that ovaries and spermaries have not been found in 

 the same individual ; but in two specimens in which there were well-developed 

 spermaries we have found embryos. We think, therefore, that there is reason to 

 suppose that the same individual is alternately male and female. The embyro lies 

 in a distinct brood-pouch occupying the whole thickness of the mesentery, which, 

 beyond the pouch, terminates in a trefoil. 



Sagartia, Gosse, " Actinologia Britannica," 1858. 

 Distrihution. — World-wide, but chiefly in temperate and colder seas. 



Sagartia albo-virdis, n. sp. 



The body-wall is green, with vertical white stripes ; in the preserved specimens 

 it is much wrinkled. Acontia were protruded from the mouth, but cinclides were 

 not certainly observed. The oral disc is marked with white radiating ridges, about 

 40 in number. The tentacles number about 42, and are arranged in two series, 

 those of the outer cycle alternating with the white stripes of the body-wall. The 

 tentacles of the inner cycle are for the most part blunt ; those of the outer cycle 

 end in a fine point, which springs abruptly from the thick contracted lower part. 

 There is a large pore at the end of each tentacle. 



The arrangement of the mesenteries is as follows : First cycle, 6 pairs ; second 

 cycle, 6 pairs ; third cycle, 12 pairs ; and, in addition, many pairs of a rudimentary 

 fourth cycle. All the mesenteries of the first two cycles and most of those of the 

 third reach the stomodaeum. In the specimens examined, none of the mesenteries 

 were fertile. The retractor muscles are strong, generally occupying the inner half 

 of the mesentery. Baso-parietal muscles are well developed. 



