16 
the invaginated portion of the cell returns, for there are times 
when the creature is quiescent in its cell, and then that portion of 
the cell returns to its normal state. Again, if closely observed, 
what some would think was a portion of the cell attached to the 
end of the tentacles, is the sete of the tentacles, caused by their 
folding up (which is characteristic of the Flosculariz), for the 
sete on the closing up of the tentacles, wrap themselves round the 
tentacles with an upward tendency, forming a fringe at the end of 
them. 
Again, if the cell is securely fastened to the shoulders of the 
creature, how comes it that the young foetus, whether produced by 
incubation of the ovum in the cell, or given off by viviparousness of 
the parent, after swimming about for a short time in the cell, makes 
its escape at the oral orifice? I have seen minute Infusoria enter 
the cell after the death of the creature,—for they soon decompose— 
and dive down into the recesses, groping along its sides, which are 
to them like the shaft of some deep sunk well, ascending and 
descending, tumbling over one another in their seemingly playful 
gambols, and then come out and swim swiftly away. If the tube 
had been solid, it would have been impossible for these minute 
creatures to have moved about in such a fluid, for it has too great 
a density for them to penetrate it. Even this, one would think, 
would be conclusive evidence of the cell being tubular and not 
‘a solid gelatinous mass.” H. J. Slack, F.G.S., Ex-President of 
the R.M.S., dissented from this theory of the solidity of the cell, 
but beyond his having been able to look down a deserted tube (?) 
I am not aware that he examined the matter further. 
Though convinced in my own mind of the correctness of the 
opinions I had formed, yet being anxious to set this debatable 
question at rest, I determined to try the process of freeing the 
creature from the cell; accordingly I detached a fine healthy 
Stephanoceros from a piece of Anacharis alsinastrum, and laid it 
on a plate of glass, with a small quantity of water. With half-inch, 
C eye-piece, I carefully observed the muscular system, and I decided 
to make an incision in the cell and sever the peduncle just above 
the sucker, and then I had the gratification of seeing her swim 
out, leaving the cell perfectly intact, with the sucker portion of 
peduncle still attached to the cuticle of the small piece of 
Anacharis. 
Not wishing to trust to an isolated case, I determined to try 
the experiment again and push my investigations further. 
On Monday, May, 15th, 1882, (10 p.m.) I placed a specimen 
of §. Eichornii in a moderately deep circular trough, my object for 
so doing in preference to using a plate of glass or live-box, being 
to ascertain what amount of vitality existed after disconnection. 
This time, instead of making a small incision in the cell, I cut 
