SEPARATE SEXES? 163 



is not permanent, it is not even constant in its locality, for 

 it may be found at any part of the free border of the septum ; 

 and finally, it has no specific structure, which distinguishes 

 it from any other part of the lining membrane ; its grape-like 

 form is owing entu-ely to the ova imbedded in it. 



The reader perceives that I regard the organisation of the 

 Actinia as much simpler than other writers seem willing to 

 admit, and that, in consequence, I interpret its functions 

 more in accordance with the laws which regulate the simpler 

 organisms. He will hereafter see that such a point of view 

 led me to examine and disprove the current notions respect- 

 ino- the Diffestiou and Nutrition of the Actiniae,* and he will 

 now see that it led me to the discovery of their true sexual 

 character. 



The universal belief is that the Actiniae are of separate 

 sexes, and Kolliker, to whom most subsequent writers refer, 

 asserts that the males are about as numerous as the females. 

 The great difficulties in the way of observation can only be 

 estimated by those who have tried it. Eapp declared there 

 was no trace of the male organs. "All the Actiniae are females," 

 he says boldly. Wagner having discovered, as he thought, 

 spermatozoa in the convoluted bands, pronounced those bands 

 to be the reproductive organs of the male ; and this state- 

 ment was accepted and repeated from book to book. It is 

 now known that Wagner was mistaken ;-|- perhaps he had 

 removed a portion of the ovary with the convoluted band, and 



♦ Part in., Chaps. I. and II. 



t This leaves the function of the convoluted bands a mystery. In Part III. 

 Chap. II., towards the close, the question is touched on. 



