168 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



very rarely so — the fact remains that they are also hermaph- 

 rodite. Nor can this surprise us now we know that even fish, 

 which are almost universally of separate sexes, also present 

 hermaphroditism as a normal phenomenon in the Perch 

 genus.* 



To sum up the various points we have just been consider- 

 ing, it appears that the Actiniae are of very simple organisa- 

 tion ; that they have no sexual organs at all ; and that the 

 temporary organ produced by an accumulation of cells in a 

 part of the lining membrane, contains both the male and 

 female elements, although possibly some indication of a sepa- 

 ration of sexes does occasionally present itself. 



A proof of the great simplicity of their organisation, and 

 an argument against the separation of their sexe.s, is seen in 

 the fact of their being able to reproduce themselves from a 

 mere fragment. In a letter received from Mr K. Q. Couch, 

 of Penzance, there is the following passage : " It is said by 

 some that the sexes in these creatures are separate, but I 

 rather think this will be found not to be the case. Speaking 

 of reproduction, I may mention that the small specimen of 

 Actinia dianthus whicli you saw is thriving (Mr Couch 

 refers to a tiny Actinia wliich had grown from a shred of the 

 base which adhered to a stone when the Dianthus was torn 

 away), and that the day you left I made four small cuttings 

 from the bases of the red and white varieties which, at the 

 present moment, are adorned with two rows of tentacles." 

 And the following report of a communication made by Dr 

 Strethill Wright to the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, 



* Seo DUFOSSE, in Annales des Sciences, 1857. 



