1869.] and Membranipora JBengalensis. 47 



see the slightest distinction between the character and form of those 

 granules (pi. XI, fig. 11) and early stage of eggs, attached to the 

 ovaria themselves, except that the former were deprived of the purple 

 coloured coating, which always surrounded the latter, when connected 

 with the folicles of the ovaria. In connection with the white viscous 

 mass, there were occasionally issued pale yellowish, contorted bands. 

 Each of these consisted of a thin but tough, almost leathery skin, 

 with numerous irregular partitions (pi. XI, fig. 12) filled with 

 extremely minute spermatozoa ; on one side the edge of the band 

 was considerably thickened. The spermatozoa appeared as round 

 globules, each with a very thin and short tail (pi. XI, fig. 13) ; their 

 motions were extremely rapid in all directions, and whenever a few 

 eggs were introduced into the mass, the spermatzoa were seen 

 collecting round each (pi. XI, fig. 14), until they formed a regular 

 coating to it. Eggs observed a few hours afterwards, distinctly 

 exhibited a motion of their fluid contents, but I have not been able to 

 trace their further changes and development. It is not at all impro- 

 bable that the spermatozoa, and in fact the whole of the male folicles, 

 are developed, as in many other corals, either at a certain season of 

 the year, or at a certain age of the animals. The act of fructification 

 may result in the death of the animal, but this is not at all likely to 

 be always the case. I shall subsequently again recur to this subject 

 in somewhat more detail, as connected with the existence of the 

 animal. 



c. Physiology. 



In tracing out the principal physiological phenomena of the 

 present Sagartia, I may best attain my object by briefly relating the 

 history of the specimen figured on pi. X. 



The specimen was obtained, on the 22nd March, 1868, in a tank 

 close to the railway station of Port Canning. I filled my aquarium 

 with a quantity of the same brackish water, and placed the specimen 

 with several others of smaller size in it. During the first ten days, 

 the large specimen exhibited great activity, usually having its 

 tentacles spread out, attacking every small animal that came in 

 contact with them. The six primary tentacles, being considerably 

 thicker than the rest, were bent out in a curve, usually leisurely 



