420 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE 



It has been proved that the execution of these weapons 

 is as effectual as their mechanism is elaborate. The wire 

 shot with such force penetrates to its base the tissues of 

 the living animals which the Anemone attacks, when its 

 barbs preclude the withdrawal of the dart. But the en- 

 trance of bodies so excessively slender would of itself 

 inflict little injury; there is evidently the infusion at the 

 same time of a highly subtile poison into the wound; some 

 venomous fluid escaping with the discharge of the ectho- 

 rceum, which has the power, at least when augmented by 

 the simultaneous intromission of scores, or hundreds, of 

 the weapons, of suddenly arresting animal vigor and speed- 

 ily destroying life, even in creatures fishes, for example 

 far higher than the zoophyte in the scale of organization. 

 I have seen a little fish in perfect health come in accidental 

 contact with one of the acontia of an irritated, Sagartia, 

 when all the evidences of distress and agony were instantly 

 manifested; the little creature darted wildly to and fro, 

 turned over, sank upon the bottom, struggled, flurried, 

 and was dead. 



"Admitting the existence of a venomous fluid, it is 

 difficult to imagine where it is lodged, and how it is in- 

 jected. The first thought that occurs to one's mind is, 

 that it is the organic fluid which we have seen to fill the 

 interior of the em'cte, and to be forced through the everting 

 tubular ecthorceum. But if so, it cannot be ejected through 

 the extremity of the ecthorceum, because, if this were an 

 open tube, I do not see how the contraction of the fluid 

 in the cnida could force it to evolve; the fluid would es- 

 cape through the still inverted tube. It is just possible 

 that the barbs may be tubes open at the tips, and that the 

 poison- fluid may be ejected through these. But I rather 



