SKA- ANEMONE; ITS REPRODUCTIVE POWERS. 4^9 



months acquiring a complete new set of tentacula and a perfectly- 

 formed mouth. The upper part did not seem conscious of the 

 loss of its base; but, like Baron Munchausen's celebrated horse, 

 took food presented to it, even though it passed out almost 

 immediately by the orifice newly-created below. If the body 

 be divided vertically, each half becomes in time a perfect 

 animal, capable of performing all its functions; and it would 

 appear that such a division occasionally takes place sponta- 

 neously. The following very curious instance of the power, 

 which the structure of this animal has, of adapting itself to 

 circumstances, is related by Dr. Johnston. " I had once brought 

 me a specimen of Actinia gemmacea, that might have been 

 originally two inches in diameter, and that had somehow con- 

 trived to swallow a valve of Pecten maximus of the size of an 

 ordinary saucer. The shell, fixed within the stomach, was so 

 placed as to divide it completely into two halves, so that the 

 body, stretched tensely over it, .had become thin and flattened 

 like a pancake. All communication between the inferior portion 

 of the stomach and the mouth was of course prevented ; yet, 

 instead of emaciating and dying of an atrophy, the animal i.ad 

 availed itself of what undoubtedly had been a very untoward 

 accident, to increase its enjoyments and its chances of double 

 fare. A new mouth, furnished with two rows of numer< us 

 tentacula, was opened upon what had been the base, and led to 

 the under stomach : the individual had indeed become a sort of 

 Siamese twin, but with greater intimacy and extent in the union." 

 It sometimes happens that, in tearing away an Actinia from the 

 rock, some portions of the disk are left behind ; and even these 

 are said to be capable of developing perfect individuals. The 

 following circumstance is mentioned by Hughes, in the account 

 already quoted. " Many people coming to see these strange 

 creatures, and occasioning some inconvenience to a person through 

 whose grounds they were obliged to pass, he resolved to destroy 

 the objects of their curiosity ; and, that he might do so effec- 

 tually, caused all the holes out of which they appeared to be 

 carefully bored and drilled with an iron instrument, so that we 

 cannot suppose but their bodies must have been entirely crushed 



