172 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



excretion were all carried on simultaneously. From the lining 

 membrane of the general cavity, the male and female repro- 

 ductive organs were also develojied, and there, in some 

 species, the ova were hatched, and the young (at first mere 

 shapeless, ciliated germs, swimming rapidly in the fluids of 

 the cavity, chambers, and tentacles) became fully formed, 

 passed into the stomach of the parent, and were ejected from 

 the mouth as perfect Actinias, with mouth, tentacles, and suc- 

 torial foot. The author had thought it possible that the pro- 

 longations from the foot of Actinia lacerata might contain 

 one of these hatched germs in its imperfect state, and that it 

 might be thus deposited on the surface occupied by the par- 

 ent, and its safety insured. Having some specimens of dian- 

 thus in his possession, he had waited for some time in vain 

 for their multiplication Ijy fissure ; he therefore determined 

 to try an experimentum crucis, and for that purpose having 

 placed the specimen in a jar of sea- water, and fed it until it 

 had become fully distended, he examined the edge of the foot, 

 which was perfectly transparent, with a powerful lens, and 

 convinced himself that no ovum or germ existed in that situ- 

 ation. He then separated a piece about a line in length, by 

 half a line in breadth, from the edge of the foot. The parts 

 immediately receded from each other, and the next day he 

 found that the separated portion had crept to a considerable 

 distance along the glass. In two or three days it had raised 

 its divided edge from the surface to which it was attached, 

 and had become a curved column ; in a fortnight tentacles 

 had appeared ; and in three weeks it had become a perfect 



