468 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1773. 



servations. Among the great number of anemonies of the 3d species, which 

 Mr, D. had clipped across the body, there happened to be 2, whose lower part 

 has in the usual way shot forth new limbs; but the upper half, where the limbs 

 . and mouth were, instead of healing up into a new basis, has produced both an- 

 other mouth and limbs. Hence an animal was formed, which caught its prey, 

 and fed by both ends at the same time. 



The sea anemonies of the first 3 species mentioned before, and perhaps those 

 likewise of the 4th, feed on those floating transparent animals of a white glassy 

 or of a blue or purplish hue, called wandering nettles, or sea jellies. An ane- 

 mone of a middle size, of the 1st and 3d species, such as that represented by 

 fig. 1 and 13, swallows one of these animals of the size of half an orange. All 

 these 4 species are good to eat. 



Particular Explanation of some of the Figures. 



Fig. 14 shows the anemone of the 3d species, when shrunk up. One sees round it a ring of sand 

 and brolien pieces of shells sticking together by means of the excrementitious humour habitually ooz- 

 ing out of the body of the animal, or out of the little granulated knobs, with which it is covered to- 

 wards the upper part. This ring is also to be seen in the same anemone, when lengthened out, as 

 expressed in fig. 13. 



Fig. 10* shows a sea anehnone, of the 2d species, concealed under die sand, and covered over in 

 different places with broken shells and gravel, with which the animal forms a coat of mail to secure 

 itself under, but out of which it can slip in an instant. The figure shows it when it spurts out water 

 at its mouth, and at the end of its limbs. 



Fig. 1 1 * shows the same anemone open. The mouth is in the centre of the upper part ; it is not 

 always shaped in the same manner in other anemonies as it is seen here, or at least does not always ap- 

 pear to be so. Fig. a shows amouth as engraved for another anemone, but which alters or shifts it» 

 form every moment. This anemone has 5 rows of limbs. There are 1 in the innermost row : the 

 like number in the 2d : 20 in the 3d : 30 in the 4th : and 80 in the 5th. When the animal is out of 

 the water, and is squeezed, it spurts out water at the mouth and at several of its limbs at the same 

 time J so that it imitates pretty well the play of water- works. When the limbs are drawn in closer 

 together, they give it the look of a flower, especially of an anemone. 



Fig. 1 2 shows an anemone of the same species, turned inside out, as when a purse or stocking is 

 so. A thin transparent membrane, with white stripes, lines the whole inside of the animal ■ and 

 through it are seen the bowels, part of which hang or come out at the middle. One may observe 

 besides, in this figure, 2 hollows sinking in, which are formed by 2 pretty strong cartilages. 



N. B. Dr. Solander being consulted about these sea worms, which are evidently of the class of the 

 actinia, referred the first species, fig. 1 — 3, to the Actinia tquina, Linn, Syst. Nat. 1088, 1 ; the 2d 

 species, fig. 10, 11, and 12, to the Actinia senilis, ib, 1088, 2; and the Sd, fig. 13 and 14, to the 

 Actinia felina, ib. 1088^ 3. 



XXXFIIL Of a New Hygrometer. By M. J. A. De Luc, Citizen of Geneva, 



F. R. S. p. 404. 



In order to proceed regularly in this investigation, Mr. D. began by examining 

 the essential requisites in a machine intended to measure humidity, which he 



■** Fig. 10, II, 12, represent the Actinia crassicornis in its different states. 



