58 
By close observation and attentive study during the last 40 years, 
Thompson, Farre, Milne Edwards, Ehrenberg, Grant, and others had 
removed them from the radiata in which they were placed by Cuvier, 
and elevated them to the mollusca; from the fact of their being 
proved to possess a higher organization. 
It was known that they possessed a mouth and _ retractile 
tentacles, but no anal aperture could be detected, hence it was 
thought the one opening served both purposes. It had now 
clearly been made out that the alimentary canal, or stomach, folded on 
itself, and was terminated by a second oriiice close by, but distinct from 
the mouth, thus proving they were of a higher organization than the 
lower zoophytes, which had but one orifice. 
In the Bowerbankia, which possessed a very transparent envelope, 
a muscular structure, nervous ganglia, a representative of the liver, 
and a circulation of the nutritive fluid through the whole body had 
been made out, thus bringing them in connection with the mollusca ; 
the more interesting, because, in external character and mode of 
growth, they were considered identical with the zoophytes ; but 
microscopical examination had proved that the sea-mats of our shore 
were closely allied to the oyster and mussel. The tentacles, too, in 
which circulation could be detected were ciliated, while the Polyps 
were without ciliated tentacles. 
The mode of reproduction was threefold, by gemmation, i.¢., by 
buds, by ova or eggs, and by fissure or division, the last the most rare, 
the first method the most common. 
To the microscopist they were an exceedingly interesting class, 
for while the mere skeleton exhibited great variety of form and beauty, 
scientifically they possessed a higher value, as showing what patient and 
enduring observation and skill might accomplish. 
The Black Rock was a good hunting ground, but the masses of 
sea-weed washed up from deep water after stormy weather would 
supply many forms. 
Mr. Wonror mentioned that two methods were adopted for pro- 
curing and preserving specimens with their tentacles expanded, one 
was by plunging the specimen in cold fresh water which killed and 
often caused them to exsert their tentacles, the other was to watch for 
the protruding of the tentacles in salt water, and to add spirits of wine 
