70 ECHINODERMATA. 



I watched this creature incessantly : yet, no less than ten months 

 elapsed, hefore I was gratified with a sight of the renovating organs. 



The Holothuria was taken in the end of February. In the end of 

 December it extended to dimensions I had never anticipated ; and it as- 

 sumed a form, position, and attitudes such as I had never seen in the 

 1 1 <il nth u ria fustm or in any others. 



The length of this specimen equalled at least eighteen inches : and, 

 some time afterwards, it testified an inclination to cast a knot of the 

 body. Plate XII. fig. 6. 



In the month of January of the year following acquisition of the 

 niiinial, its tentacula remained transiently protruded while exposed to 

 the light. 



This Holothuria was affixed like a horse shoe to the side of a capa- 

 cious vessel ; the lower half of the animal adopting such curvature that 

 one part always comprehends the posterior extremity, consequently the 

 orifice ; and now the specimen had been so vigorous during the night 

 that its jet was discharged over the side of the vessel. 



Some animals are incredibly shy ; their timidity never diminishes ; 

 they shun the presence of light, and even the crossing of a shadow may 

 Ije the signal for disappearance. Although the tentacular apparatus pro- 

 truded several times, I could never obtain a complete view one such 

 us was desirable and satisfactory of the component parts. Nor until five 

 weeks later could the sketch Plate XIII. be executed, which brings the 

 history of the subject to about seven months and a fortnight from the 

 date of acquisition. 



The sketch was obtained under much inconvenience ; and although 

 1 believe it correct as to the number and quality of the tentacula, I could 

 have anxiously wished a drawing of them, from observation, during per- 

 manent expansion. But to procure anything better proved impossible. 



At one time, I acknowledge, I thought the tentacula more than 

 (iglit, that they amounted to ten, besides the two antennuke. However, 

 on endeavouring to dissect the parts, after the animal died, I was unable 

 to find above eight shelly receptacles, wherein they might be retracted. 



