THE CHIEODOTA. 243 



taneously througli the middle into two or more parts, 

 all becoming ultimately perfect by tbe development of 

 new organs."* 



This spontaneous division I lately had an opportu- 

 nity of witnessing in a Echinoderm of great rarity, so 

 rare that T know not whether any British zoologist has 

 seen it before, since its discovery on the South Devon 

 Coast by Montagu, Professor Forbes says he had 

 never met with a living example. I allude to Chiro- 

 doia digitata. 



Many living specimens of this species were for- 

 warded to me by the kindness of the Eev. 0. Kings! ey, 

 who obtained them in the vicinity of Torquay. He 

 says, " I got this and Actinia chrysanthellum in two 

 contiguous coves, washed up after a heavy gale [in 

 January] in company with Lutraria elliptica, and 

 the common red hag-worm, indicating life on a mud- 

 sand bottom." 



This animal is a very worm-like Holothuria, nearly 

 cylindrical in form when in health. The largest of 

 my specimens extended to ten inches, with an average 

 diameter of one-fourth of an inch. The posterior 

 extremity is always plump and rounded, sometimes 

 swollen to an oval sac, half an inch in diameter and 

 two inches long. The body is covered with annular 

 striae, most distinct on the fore half. 



Notwithstanding the cylindrical form, a dorsal and 

 a ventral side may be readily distinguished. The 

 former has, as its general colour, a hue approaching to 

 the Indian-red of artists, while the latter is of a pale 

 pellacid flesh-colour. The body is marked by five 

 •DalyeU. 



