154 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



Surreys made by direction of his Grace the Duke of Northumber- 

 land, K.G.," by Henry Maclaughlan, folio, 1857. These antiquarian 

 researches were, we believe, continued till near the time of his 

 demise. T. W. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



BY W. B. TEGETMEIEE. 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OE DUBLIN.— Jaw. 6. 



On Fissiparotjs Reproduction Observed in Anthea Cereus. — Dr. 

 E. H. Bennett read a most interesting account of an instance of 

 fissiparous generation which he had been enabled to observe accu- 

 rately. One morning last July he brought from Seapoint three 

 specimens of Anthea cereus (the ash-coloured variety), and put 

 them into a large aquarium. They were uninjured, and at once 

 attached themselves to the stonework of the aquarium, expanding 

 their tentacles to the full. He had on previous occasions failed in 

 getting this species to do well in the vessel, from some fault in its 

 management, and consequently watched these with some interest. 

 During the evening of the day on which they were put into the 

 vessel he was surprised to see one of them moving about in a most 

 unusual manner. The species is always rather restless as compared 

 with others, but this individual seemed to be suffering from some 

 extreme excitement, being constantly in 'rapid movement along the 

 stone- work, and waving its long ash-coloured tentacles in the wildest 

 manner. Late at night the Anthea was on the highest point of the 

 stonework, in the centre of the vessel; in the morning it was attached 

 high up the front glass of the vessel, and was still in the same state 

 of excitement. Its position on the front of the vessel afforded the 

 best possible opportunity for the examination of its structure and 

 movements. He made a most careful examination of it, and assured 

 himself that it was perfectly free from any injury. On his return 

 home, at about three p.m., he at once examined it and found that 

 there was in the centre of the base a small, irregular opening ; the 

 base itself was no longer circular, but bad extended itself in the 

 vertical direction to the utmost, and formed a long, narrow oblong. 

 So great was its extension lengthwise, that the column of the animal 

 was almost fiat on the glass. The opposite ends of the base seemed 

 to be working to the utmost to increase the distance between them, 

 and the tentacles waved about more vigorously than in the morning. 

 It occurred to him that this excitement and muscular exertion in 

 the base was owing to the fact that the animal was attempting to 

 divide spontaneously. He 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 irregular, and was evidently increasing 



