BENNETT — ON ANTHEA CERETTS. 209 



column of the animal was almost flat on the glass. The opposite ends 

 of the base seemed to he working to the utmost to increase the distance 

 between them, and the tentacles waved about more vigorously, if pos- 

 sible, than in the morning. 



It occurred to me that the meaning of all this excitement and mus- 

 cular exertion, of the opening in, and the shape of, the base, was, that 

 the animal was attempting to divide spontaneously — was, in fact, in 

 the pangs of a very strange labour. I determined to watch the process, 

 and sat down in front of the vessel. 



In a few moments the opening in the base became wider, more ir- 

 regular, and was evidently increasing from the violence of the muscular 

 efforts of the animal. Presently the opening in the base extended to 

 the margin and up the right side of the column, exposing to view the 

 internal structure — the septa and so-called craspeda. At 4-20, twenty 

 minutes after the rent had reached the margin of the base, it extended 

 to the left side, and so divided the whole base into two nearly equal seg- 

 ments. It is a curious fact that the tentacles corresponding to the two 

 parts now contracted separately ; hitherto the contractions were con- 

 vulsive, and set in suddenly at intervals and all together, now there was 

 a distinct pause between the convulsion of the upper and lower divi- 

 sions, the upper always preceding the lower by a few seconds. Does 

 not this suggest that the seat of the central nervous system of Actinia 

 occupies the base, as Spix thought he had demonstrated — although this 

 demonstration has been rejected by every authority who has followed 

 him? At 5*10 the walls of the stomach could be seen strained across 

 the fissure, and they presently gave way, the rent extending right 

 through the column to the oral disc. On one margin of the disc the 

 rent involved the base of one of the outer row of tentacles, and ex- 

 tended along it. I was much interested in watching its progress along 

 the tentacle, as it seemed doubtful whether it would tear along its 

 whole length, or detach one or other half from its attachment to the 

 body. The strain seemed great on the parts, and at last the lower half 

 tore off from its base, and, immediately closing into a perfect tube, hung 

 as a branch from its parent trunk. The wound in this, too, seemed to 

 close at once when the strain was taken off. I have mentioned this 

 apparently trivial detail, as it may explain the occasional occurrence of 

 the double or branched tentacle which has been observed in Anthea 

 eereus. At 5-45, less than three hours from the commencement of the 

 process, the division was complete, the upper half falling to the bottom 

 of the vessel. At 6-5 the lower followed it, and the two new indivi- 

 duals lay together almost motionless. 



Next morning one attached itself to the glass, and showed its base 

 nearly perfect ; the other lay much in the same place as the evening 

 before. 



I regret that I was unable to continue my observations on these 

 two animals any further — the water in the vessel became turbid, and 

 many of its inhabitants died, including the two An these. They were 



2g 



