164 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
mediterranewm, and now adds a fourth species Ech. pennatijidum, in regard 
to which he previously published a brief note. 
Coelentera. 
Monogenesis in Metridium.* — Mr. H. B. Torrey finds that mono- 
genesis is a well-established process in Metridium jimbriatum ; longi- 
tudinal fission, laceration, and budding from oesophageal and foot 
regions occur. Monogenous individuals may be sexually mature. 
The plane of division tends to pass through at least one siphono- 
glyph ; but there is no apparent relation between the process of division 
and the number and position of the mesenteries. Laceration may be 
due to unfavourable environmental conditions. It may occur in dividing 
polyps. Buds arise from the oesophageal and foot regions ; an oesopha- 
geal bud may occupy any position relatively to the siphonoglyph of the 
parent, and its siphonoglyph may be independent of that of the parent. 
Both budding and fission may occur in the same colony. Variation in 
the number of siphonoglyphs is not correlated with asexual reproduc- 
tion. The monoglvphic and di glyphic types are not of the nature of 
varieties. That identical structures arise from quite different sources 
by different processes, is significant. 
Are there Septal Funnels in Anthozoa ?| — Dr. 0. Carlgren discusses 
the alleged occurrence of septal funnels in larval sea-anemones, and is 
unable to confirm Goette’s conclusion. After a study of eight embryos 
of Bunodes gemmacea, he has found no trace of septal funnels, beyond 
deceptive results of the contraction of the oral disc. He criticises 
Goette’s instances, and maintains that the evidence will not hold. At 
present it seems to him unwarrantable to regard the scyphistoma as 
representing the ancestral form of Anthozoa and Scyphomedusae. 
Detachable Tentacles in Sea-Anemones.J — Dr. 0. Carlgren main- 
tains that the members of the two genera Bolystomidium and Polyopis , 
described by O. Hertwig as having rudimentary tentacles, are really 
forms in which the tentacles may be detached. Detachment of tentacles 
may occur not only in deep-sea forms, like Bolocera and Polyopis , but 
in littoral forms like Boloceroides. Of the last-named a diagnosis is 
given. 
Relationships of Stichodactylin8e.§ — Mr. J. E. Duerden discusses 
the Actiniarian genera Corynactis , BJiodactis, and Bicordea , which exhibit 
decided Madreporarian affinities. The tout ensemble is more decidedly 
Madreporarian than Actiniarian, as the author shows in detail. The 
suggestion which Gosse made, from external characters alone, of the 
close resemblance of Corynactis to the coral Caryophyllia, is supported 
in every important detail by anatomical study. Whether the forms in 
question are to be regarded as representatives of more ancestral ane- 
mones from which the skeleton-producing polyps may have taken their 
origin, or as coral polyps belonging to different families which have for 
* Proc. California Acad. Sci., 3rd series, i. (1898) pp. 345-60 (1 pi.). 
f Zool. Anzeig., xxii. (1899) pp. 31-9 (6 figs.). $ Tom. cit., pp. 39-44. 
§ Jonrn. Linn. Soc. (Zool ), xxvi. (1898) pp. 635-53. 
