THE WAVED MUZZLET. 241 



into sea- water, no immediate change appeared, but after an 

 hour or two the tentacles began slowly to move one by 

 one backward and forward, and slightly to swell and to 

 lengthen, while the mouth partly contracted. Next morning 

 it had quite recovered health and beauty. 



The tentacles were very versatile, constantly changing 

 their form. The mouth also was perpetually opening or 

 closing, but slowly. 



The animal appears unable to enclose the disk, but the 

 tentacles contract individually, when touched, or spon- 

 taneously, shortening to mere warts. I have seen the 

 animal when several of its tentacles could scarcely be 

 distinguished from the general level of the disk-edge, 

 except by the coloured rings. 



It would lie rolling about on the sand in a vase, with 

 constrictions successively passing up its body, and throwing 

 off clear mucus. When put into a hole in the sand it 

 would not remain ; being very buoyant, it was soon on the 

 surface, the hole gradually filling beneath it. 



It remained in health for a few days, at which period 

 the mouth gaped widely, and the lax corrugated stomach 

 was exposed ; the tentacles contracted to warts, and, the 

 animal being manifestly feeble and dying, I dissected it. 



Mr. Whitchurch, of Guernsey, reports having found a 

 Peackia, which he supposes to be this species, on re- 

 peated occasions; it may, however, have been the following. 

 He mentions the interesting fact that the tentacles are 

 luminous. 



The Siphonactinia (= Peachia) Boeckii has so close a 

 resemblance to this species, that I am not certain whether 

 my specific appellation will not have to be merged in that 

 of the Norwegian zoologists. I rely, however, on the 

 figure in Faun. Litt. Norv., ii., in which the lobes of the 

 conchula are distinctly three in number, and are square in 



R 



