SEA-ANEMOXKS: THEIR WEAPONS 



good light, I have reason to conclude that the streblot, and 

 even the pterygia, are continued on the attenuated portion 

 of the ecthorcKum, perhaps throughout its length. In Cor. 

 viridis and Gyathina Smithii I have succeeded in tracing 

 them up a considerable distance. In the latter I saw the 

 continuation of all these bands, with their bristles, but 

 what was strange, the angle of inclination had become 

 nearly twice as acute as before, being only 22 from the 

 axis. The appearance of the attenuated portion, as also 

 of the base of the ventricose part, is exactly that of a 

 three-sided wire, twisted on itself; the barbs projecting 

 from the angles. 



"The next form of these organs is the Tangled Cnida. 

 This form is very generally distributed, and is mingled 

 with the former in the various tissues. In the genus 

 Sagartia, however, it is by far the rarer form, while in 

 Actinia and Anthea it seems to be the only one. 



"The pretty little Corynactis viridis is the best species 

 that I am acquainted with for studying this kind of cnidce. 

 [A fragment of its craspeda I have here ready for your 

 observation, prepared exactly like that of 0. Smithii.] 

 Their figure is near that of a perfect oval, but a little 

 flattened in one aspect, about ^-o-th of an inch in the 

 longer, and ^Q-th in the shorter diameter. Their size, 

 therefore, makes them peculiarly suitable for observations 

 on the structure and functions of these curious organs. 

 Within the cavity lies a thread (ecthorceum) of great length 

 and tenuity, coiled up in some instances with an approach 

 to regularity, but much more commonly in loose contor- 

 tions, like an end of thread rudely rolled into a bundle 

 with the fingers. 



"The armature ol this kind does not differ essentially 



