found in the Northumberland Lakes. 287 



seen scattered about like as many minute Florence flasks ; the 

 bulbous extremity being elegantly rounded. For the purpose of 

 ascertaining if the animal really possessed this power, a small 

 worm was given to a polype when under the microscope^ and 

 carefully watched. The animal was exceedingly cautious in 

 using its tentacles, not applying them in their whole extent as 

 might have been expected, but keeping by far the greater portion 

 of these organs perfectly free and unattached to its prey. Very 

 few of the arrow-heads were exserted, and apparently never till 

 required ; occasionally certain parts of the tentacles were brought 

 into contact with the worm, and then, as it was forcibly drawn 

 further into the mouth, the protruded barbs might be seen sticking 

 in the surface of the struggling victim. At other times, as it 

 rolled about in its vain endeavours to escape, the bulbous extre- 

 mities of several of these formidable weapons were seen pro- 

 truding from the skin, undoubtedly placed there by the pungent 

 embrace of this deadly and determined foe ; while others lay 

 scattered about in every direction as if just cast from the tentacles. 

 It is therefore evident that these weapons can be used either as 

 grappling instruments for securing food, or having been plunged 

 into some living prey, can be left half-buried in the wound. In- 

 deed when the barbs have been once fairly immersed, it is difficult 

 to conceive how they can be withdrawn ; and therefore it is pro- 

 bable that the tentacles can only be disengaged by moulting these 

 organs, which seem to be very slightly attached by the neck of 

 the flask-like portion. 



This, however, may not be the only reason why these weapons 

 are left in the wound. It has been stated that they are stinging 

 as well as captor organs, and if so may require time to pour the 

 poison into the wounded animal. The deadly fluid is probably 

 contained in the bulbous portion of the instrument, and by the 

 contraction of its walls may be forced through the other extre- 

 mity which is perforated ; at least from the extreme point a long, 

 delicate filament, fig. 10 d, almost invariably protrudes, re- 

 sembling very closely the appearance of the long process attached 

 to the stinging bodies thrown out of the papillse of Eolis, and 

 from the tentacles of Actinia. But other bodies much more 

 closely resembling the stinging organs of these animals were 

 found strewed about associated with the captor organs. These 

 bodies, fig. 11, are minute elliptical sacs with a long, slender 

 filament fi-om one end like that just mentioned from the pointed 

 extremity of the captor organ. The filaments of both these 

 bodies have a double margin, and are apparently tubular. Now 

 it is more than probable that these elliptical sacs are thrown out 

 of the captor organ, and that the filament, so frequently seen 



