970 The American Naturalist. [November, 
In July this attachment was seldom seen, although the en- 
larged stem terminations were still common. These latter 
appeared to be shedding their perisarc, which was often seen 
to be partly peeled off. 
About the middle of August I observed that these enlarged 
ends were forking just as did the produced hydrocladia of P. 
pinnata. Still later, immediately before my departure from 
Naples, I found some of these enlarged ends attached to the 
sides of the jar and budding, although the buds had not yet. 
developed into hydranths. There is practically no doubt that 
we have here a ease of stoloniferous reproduction in the genus 
Aglaophenia. 
Although I was unable to demonstrate the use of the clasp- 
ing hooks at the ends of the stems, it was impossible to escape 
the constantly recurring suggestion that they might possibly 
signify a mode of conjugation such as is found among the Pro- 
tozoa (e. g., Paramecium) and the Algæ (e. g., Spirogyra). 
That these hooked ends are for some definite purpose can 
be confidently assumed, and there are but two explanations 
which appear plausible. 
Ist. These terminal hooks may aid directly in the stolonif- 
erous reproduction by attaching themselves to some adjacent 
object upon which the new colonies can grow. i 
2nd. They may be clasping organs for use in conjugation. 
As a matter of fact they may serve both purposes. My obser- 
vations strongly indicate that they are useful as a means of 
attachment, and the following considerations indicate a strong 
possibility that conjugation may take place. 
1st. They were seen so often in a position favoring conjuga- 
tion, i. e., with the ends of two colonies clasped in a close em- 
brace as to indicate a normal function. 
2nd. It was after this supposed conjugation that the stolon- 
iferous multiplication was observed to be under way. 
3rd. These enlarged ends of the stems were found to contain 
a number of amæboid cells which were unusually active, 
sending out pronounced pseudopodia. I could not decide 
definitely whether these cells were in the ectoderm or endo- 
derm, on account of the unfavorable position of the living col- 
ony under inspection. 
