A CELEBRATED ANEMONE. 49 



In the studio of the above accomplished natura- 

 list, ' Granny' (as she has been amusingly christened) 

 still dwells, her wants being attended to with all 

 that tenderness and care which her great age 

 demands. 



Sir J. Daly ell informs us that during a period of 

 twenty years this creature produced no less than 

 344 young ones. But, strange to say, nearly 

 the fortieth part of this large progeny consisted of 

 monstrous animals, the monstrosity being rather 

 by redundance than defect. One, for instance, was 

 distinguished by two mouths of unequal dimensions 

 in the same disc, environed by a profusion of ten- 

 tacula. Each mouth fed independently of its fellow, 

 and the whole system seemed to derive benefit 

 from the repast of either. In three years this monster 

 became a fine specimen, its numerous tentacula were 

 disposed in four rows, whereas only three charac- 

 terize the species, and the tubercles of vivid purple, 

 regular and prominent, at that time amounted to 

 twenty- eight. 



From the foregoing statement we learn that this 

 extraordinary animal produced about 300 young 

 during a period of twenty years, but, c wonder of 

 wonders!' I have now to publish the still more 

 surprising fact, that in the spring of the year 

 1857, after being unproductive for many years, it 

 unexpectedly gave birth, during a single night, to 



no less than 240 living models of its illustrious self! 



4 



