8418 Radiata. 



One of these seemed to be ailing, and with the view to give it the best chance of 

 recovery, I placed it in what I call my Ilfiacoinbe tank, which has been established 

 some time, and vegetation well developed. The anemone in question was located on 

 the end of a small piece of mica, about the size of one's three fingers, and of a tolerably 

 flat and even surface. In the lank were several of the S. Sphyrodeta species, some of 

 which have not shifted their position for months. Within an inch of the opposite end 

 of the stone on which the S. miniata was fixed, was one of the S. Sphyrodeta above- 

 named. The new comer was placed in his new home on the 18th of October, at six 

 o'clock in the evening. About an hour afterwards, on casually looking at the tank, 

 it seemed to me that the S. Sphyrodeta was moving his position towards the stone. 

 Subsequent examination confirmed the impression, for in a couple of hours more he 

 began the ascent of the stone. Fancying that his intentions were felonious towards 

 my new pet, and for the purpose of interrupting his advance, I placed a bit of oyster- 

 shell, of the size of an old penny, between the two. Half an hour elapsed, and ex- 

 hibited the S. Sphyrodeta in the act of crossing the barrier, still advancing in a straight 

 line towards the apparently unconscious opponent. As an additional obstacle to its 

 progress I put a Trochus shell on the oyster-shell, and so left the combatants for the 

 night, under the firm impression that no quarrel would take place. My reasons for 

 these precautions were the result of my observations that the S. Sphyrodeta is, of all 

 the anemones with which I am acquainted, the most spiteful. On the slightest 

 irritation it emits the acontia most freely, and other anemones so irritating or coming 

 in contact with it have been stung severely. In more than one instance which I 

 remember, a Gemmacea has been killed by S. Sphyrodeta, and I am therefore the 

 more careful to keep them isolated in the aquarium. The morning inspection showed 

 that a severe battle had been fought, for. both the anemones were detached, lying 

 within half an inch of each other, and literally covered with acontia, and S. Sphyro- 

 deta, from his flabby and lacerated appearance, indicated that he had come off second- 

 best in the fight. But the most remarkable part of the story is that the two shells 

 were in the exact position in which they were left: the inference therefore is that 

 S. Sphyrodeta must have gone round the bit of stone (a distance of three or four 

 inches) so as to attack his adversary. I at once removed S. miniata (which soon got 

 belter) to prevent further " family jars," but it was quite a week before the angry little 

 S. Sphyrodeta (which is not half the size of the former) adhered, and seemed " himself 

 again." Can any of the readers of the ' Zoologist' give information respecting the 

 reproduction of Serpulae ? In an aquarium which has never been tenanted by a single 

 specimen, two specimens of S. triqueta have recently appeared, one on the slate side 

 of the tank and another on a bit of rock-work contiguous. Tliey are each about half 

 an inch in length, and from ihe constant expansion of their little feathery plumes I 

 conclude that they are in perfect health. In another tank, where are some fine speci- 

 mens of S. contortuplicata from Weymouth, I observe that they occasionally cast the 

 little valve which closes their tube, and that it is renewed by Nature. What can be 

 the reason for this? To my great delight, a sample of sea-water procured from Rhyl, 

 in the early part of October last, contained the Nocliluca in great abundance. They 

 continued visible for about ten days whenever the water was agitated, but gradually 

 disappeared during the period. This is the first time I have ever witnessed this beautiful 

 phenomenon away from the sea coast. To do so in an aquarium in this " city of smoke'' 

 is a treat of no ordinary kind. On opening a lavge mussel {Mytilus edulis), a few days 

 ago (which, by the way, I find by experience to be the best food for all anemones), I 



