Lucernari®. 
Z. HELI ANTHOID A. 
233 
muscular nature, rise up within the peduncle, dividing- at the expan- 
sion of the body, into eight distinct fasciculi, one proceeding to each 
arm. These fasciculi are composed of long parallel fibres, are analo- 
gous to the lamellae of the Actiniae, and like them divide the body 
into eight equal compartments, for the inner fold of the corium is in- 
timately connected with them on both sides. The vermiform caeca 
lie in these compartments ; and the ova appear also to be generated 
in them, but whether they have an appropriate ovary is doubtful. A 
specimen which had undergone a certain degree of putrefaction and 
dissolution exhibited these ova forming a complete circle round the 
mouth with rows running up the arms to the base of the tentacula. 
(Fig. 36.) The ova were proportionably large, roundish or oval (Fig. 
36, c?), and irregularly grouped. The change produced in the appear- 
ance of the tentacula was considerable, for the globular apex had dis- 
appeared, and all had assumed a linear or conical figure (Fig. e ), — the 
centre filled with an opake granular matter forming a dark speck at 
the apex, and covered with a clear mucous skin. The vesicle pre- 
sented precisely the same structure, but no aperture was visible in 
either part. 
The Lucernariae can swim with some rapidity in the water by al- 
ternate dilatations and contractions 1 ' of the body, but they are usually 
found adherent to sea-weeds, the first species in a dependent position, 
the two latter invariably erect, so that Lamarck is in error when he 
describes the mouth as being inferior. When in a state of expan- 
sion, few marine worms exceed them in beauty and singularity of 
form ; when contracted they are shapeless and easily overlooked. 
They feed on small crustaceous animals brought within reach by the 
tide or their own destiny,* and to arrest them more certainly the ten- 
* Lamouroux asserts that L. campanulata perceives its prey when within a 
short distance and pursues it. His words are — “ J’avois la precaution de chan- 
ger l’eau de mes Lucernaires deux fois par jour ; dans un vase qui ne contenoit 
qu’un de ces animaux, ce dernier executa des mouvements qui me parurent ex^ 
traordinaires dans un etre d’un consistance aussi molle, immediatement apres 
que j’y eus de l’eau nouvelle ; avec la loupe je m’apercpis que ces mouvemens 
etoient causes par la presence d’un animalcule que la Lucernaire sembloit. pur- 
suivre en se portant a droite et a gauche, pour tacher de le saisir ; toutes les 
fois qu’il s’eloignoit a la distance d’environ un pouce, la Lucernaire cessoit tout 
mouvement ; s’il se rapproehoit, la chasse recommen^it de suite, et les mouve- 
mens etoient vifs et prompts : l’animalcule fut enfin saisi par les tentacules d’un 
des rayons, qui a l’instant se replie vers la bouche ; les autres resterent tou- 
jours etales ; ce rayon reprit peu a peu sa position ordinaire, M’etant procure 
d’autres animalcules, je les donnai a mes Lucernaires, et j’eus le plaisir de voir 
leurs mouvemens se repeter avec les memes circonstances,” Mem. du Mus. ii, 
464- 
