414 


Mr. P. II. Gosse on the British Actiniae. 


a worm closely allied to Gordius, found, in every instance, that 
after twenty-four hours the larvae became more or less infected 
with these embryos, which had penetrated into their bodies; 
while the larvae of Yponomeuta being transparent, enabled this 
sagacious observer to ascertain, by aid of the microscope, that 
they did not contain any of these embryos before the experi- 
ment of bringing the two into contact with each other was 
performed* *. Lespes also, while studying the Termites , found 
whole nests destroyed by the embryos of a Nematoid worm just 
like our microscopic Filarice , penetrating their bodies and be- 
coming developed in the peritoneal cavity f, as in the instance 
above mentioned in Nais. If, after this, the origin and mode of 
introduction of Dracunculus into the human body be doubted, I 
can only reply, that I shall be happy to see a better explana- 
tion of it. The facts above stated appear to me as conclusive as 
those of Cysticercus producing Tania, or tape-worm ; and there- 
fore it remains only to determine which of the microscopic 
Filarice produces Dracunculus in Bombay, — a point which the 
marked forms of these worms respectively might be expected to 
render not difficult of demonstration. Indeed, it so happens 
that the so-called “Tank-worm” ( Urolabes% palustris, mihi), 
which I have taken from the “bathing-pool” of the school men- 
tioned, as well as from other pools, tanks, and collections of 
dirty fresh water in the island generally, comes nearest to Dra- 
cunculus. The largest specimens are l-6th of an inch long, bi- 
labiate, with an exsertile, sharp-pointed oesophagus ; the hepatic 
sheath ending some distance from the termination of the intes- 
tine ; the vulva opens in the female a little in front of the 
middle of the body, and the anus posteriorly, just before the 
body terminates suddenly in a whip-like tail. The penis in the 
male is exsertile from the anus, very nearly close to the posterior 
extremity of the body, which is so obtuse as to be almost trun- 
cated. The tail of the young is semi-geniculated at the base, and 
there is a gland close to the anus, as in the young Dracunculus ; 
that of the adult female varies in length, and becomes curved 
upon itself when short. 


XL. — Synopsis of the Families, Genera , and Species of the British 
Actiniae. By P. H. Gosse, F.R.S. 

In hac Synopsi includuntur tot species Zoophytorum Astraea- 
ceorum Britannicorum quot mihi adhuc cognitae sunt. Desunt 

* Ann. des Sc. Nat. s£r. 4. Zool. t. iv. p. 56, 1855. 
t Annals, vol. xix. p. 388, 1857. 

j “ A holder-on by the tail,” which is a character common to all these 
microscopic Filarice. 


Mr. P. H. Gosse on the British Actiniae. 


415 


nonnullse, quas, imperite descriptas, vel dubias, non tentatum 
est generatim distribuere. Tribus Caryophyllacea ad mono- 
graphiam futuram postponitur. 

ASTILEACEA. 

Fam. I. Sagartiadae. 

Basis adhaerens. Tentacula simplicia, in cyclis continuis 
digesta. Cutis, pro filis retractilibus armatis emittendis, per- 
forata. 

Gen. i. Actinoloba (Blainv.). Basis integra, cyclica. Ten- 
tacula libenter et totaliter retractilia. Cutis acetabulis egens. 
Os (ut plurimum) unica canali gonidiali instructum. 

1. A.dianthus (Ellis). Corpus laeve, in impleto columniforme. 
Os valde sulcatum, saepissime rufum. Tentacula albo-annu- 
lata. 

Gen. ii. Sagartia. (Gosse). Basis integra, cyclica. Tentacula 
libenter et totaliter retractilia. Cutis acetabulis instructa. Os 
duabus canalibus gonidialibus instructum. 

2. S, bellis (Ellis). Discus crateriformis, saepe undulatus, co- 
lumna petiolo simulanti. Tentacula plurima, minima, in sex 
cyclis digesta. 

3. S. miniata (Gosse). Tentacula, in fronte, duabus lineis sub- 
parallelis obscuris signata; in radice, area alba duas vittas 
nigras ferente : extima medulla coccinea. 

4. S. rosea (Gosse). Tentacula rosea: intima nonnunquam 
duabus vittis nigris in imo signata. 

5. S . ornata (Holdsworth). Tentaculorum radiorumque con- 
junctio nigricans: vitta alba cordeque albo signata. {Hanc 
non vidi.) 

6. S . ichthy stoma (Gosse). Tentacula minima, marginalia: dua- 
bus vittis nigris tenuibus signata. 

7. S. venusta (Gosse). Discus aureus: tentacula nivea. 

8. S. nivea (Gosse) . Discus niveus : tentacula nivea. 

9. S. sphyrodeta (Gosse). Tentacula pauca, crassa, nivea; cu- 
j usque radix intra annulum purpureum tenuem inclusa, qui 
in linea marginem versus exit. 

10. S, pallida (Holdsworth). Tentacula pluria, tenuia, nivea ; 
quodque inter duas lineas cseruleas arcuatas amplexatum. 

11. S. pellucida (Alder). Prorsus pellucide alba. [Hanc non 
vidi.) 


416 


Mr. P. H. Gosse on the British Actiniae. 


12. S. coccinea (Muller). Corpus rufum, albo-lineatum : tenta- 
cula pellucida albo-annulata, in imo vitta et duabus triangu- 
laribus maculis nigris signata. 

13. S. troglodytes (Johnston). Tentaeula in imo litera nigra B 
signata. 

14. S . viduata (Muller). Tentaeula tenuia, flexuosissima, linea 
obscura irrupta utrinque signata. 

15. S. parasitica (Couch). Tentaeula crassiora, linea obscura 
fracta utrinque signata. 

16. S . Yarrellii (Cocks). Totaliter hyalina : columna lineis albis 
signata. Tentaeula brevia, obtusa, punctis albis conspersa. 
( Hanc non vidi .) 

17. S . Alderi (Cocks). Columna hyalina, lineis prasinis sig- 
nata, quae pone tentaeula producuntur. Discus roseus. ( Hanc 
non vidi,) 

18. S. Bellii (Cocks). Columna, discus, tentaculaque hyalina, 
maculis flavis signata. Os aureum. ( Hanc non vidi,) 

19. S. (?) chrysosplenum (Cocks). Columna viridis, maculis 
flavis linealiter digestis signata. Tentaeula annulis viridibus 
signata. ( Hanc non vidi,) 

Gen. iii. Adamsia (Forbes). Corpus valde depressum. Basis 
(aetate matura) annularis, ad conchas adhaerens. Tentaeula bre- 
vissima, difficiliter et haud omnino retractilia. 

20. A, palliata (Boh.). Corpus striis sulcatum: maculis pur- 
pureis aspersum. 

Gen. iv. Aiptasia (Gosse). Corpus versatile, valde extensile. 
Tentaeula longa, flexuosa, intima longissima, difficiliter et haud 
omnino retractilia. 

21. A, amacha (Gosse). Fuliginosa; discus radiis glaucis vel 
cinereis signatus. 

(N.B. Genera Capnea et Corynactis in tribu Caryophyllacea 
collocantur.) 

Fam. II. ActiniadaB. 

Basis adhaerens. Tentaeula simplicia, in cyclis continuis di- 
gesta. Cutis laevis, acetabulis verrucis et cinclidibus egens. 

Gen. v. Anthea (Johnston). Tentaeula flexuosissima, dif- 
ficiliter raroque retracta. Sphserulae marginales nullae. 

22. A . cereus (Ellis). Tentaeula tenuia, corpore longiora, 
teretia. 


Mr. P. H. Gosse on the British Actiniae. 


417 


23. A . Tuedice (Johnst.). Tentacula crassa, subacuta, corpore 
breviora, longitudinaliter sulcata. ( Hanc non vidi .) 

Gen. vi. Actinia (Linn.). Tentacula libenter et totaliter re- 
tractilia. Sphserulae capsulifene ad disci marginem seriatae. 

24. A. mesembryanthemum (Ellis). Columna teres, obesa, mollis. 

25. A. margaritifera (Templeton). Columna depressa, coriacea, 
transverse et longitudinaliter sulcata. ( Hanc non vidi . An 
distincta a priori ?) 

Fam. III. Bunodidae. 

Basis adhaerens. Tentacula simplicia, in cyclis continuis 
digesta. Cutis imperforata, verrucis obruta. 

Gen. vii. Bunodes (Gosse). Verrucae teretes, non adhaesivae, 
linealiter digestae. Tentacula maculis definitis signata. 

26. B. clavata (Thompson). Verrucae subaequales, punctum 
rubrum ferentes. Discus tentaculaque punctis albis conspersa. 
Tentacula tenuiora, apicibus crispis. 

27. B . thallia (Gosse). Verrucae subsequales, thalassinae in fun- 
damine glauco. Tentacula crassa, obtusa, punctis albis sparse 
signata. 

28. B. gemmacea (Ellis). Verrucae magnae parvaeque in seriebus 
alternis. Columna griseo roseoque varia, sex taeniis albis 
signata. Tentacula crassa, obtusa, pellucida, in fronte pur- 
purea, maculis ovalibus amplis albis signata. 

Gen. viii. Tealia (Gosse). Verrucae cavatae, adhaesivae, indi- 
geste sparsae. Tentacula brevia, crassa, conica, sine maculis 
definitis. Cutis cartilaginea. 

29. T. crassicornis (Muller). Columna rubro viridique varia, 
verrucis glaucis. Tentacula annulata. 

30. T . digitata (Muller). Corpus miniatum, verrucis rufis. 
Tentacula unicolora. ( Hanc non vidi.) 

Fam. IV. Ilyanthidae. 

Corporis extremitas inferior obtuse rotundata, sine basi ad- 
haerente. Tentacula simplicia, in uno vel pluribus cyclis con- 
tinuis digesta. Cutis laevis, acetabulis verrucis et cinclidibus 
egens. Fossores, natatores, aut tubifices. 

Gen. ix. Ilyanthus (Forbes). Columna pyriformis, infra in 
punctum obtusum imperforatum attenuata. Tentacula sex et 
triginta aut pluria, retractilia. Os simplex. 

31. I. Scoticus (Forbes). Tentacula tenuia, filifonnia, fere in- 

Ann. Sf Mag . N. Hist . Ser. 3. Vol . i. 27 


418 Mr. P. H. Gosse on the British Actiniae. 

star longitudinis columns : linea obscura signata. ( Hanc non 
vidi.) 

32. I. Mitchellii (Gosse). Tentacula crassa, conica, instar quartae 
partis longitudinis columnae : vittis transversis signata. 

Gen. x. Edwardsia (Quatrefages). Columna vermiformis. 
Discus tentaculaque in apice cylindri retractilis posit a. Pars 
inferior rara, inflata, translucida, retractilis, imperforata ; media 
plus minusve epidermide opaco incrassata. 

33. E. callimorpha (Gosse). Tentacula sexdecim, in unica serie 
digesta, marginalia, subcylindrica, duplo longiora quam cylin- 
drus superior, hyaliua, maculis et semi-annulis opacis albis 
signata. 

34. E. camea (Gosse). Tentacula quatuor et viginti, in tribus 
seriebus digesta, conica, acuta, instar dimidii longitudinis 
cylindri superioris, annulis carneis alternatis sub-opacis et 
pellucidis signata. 

Gen. xi. Halcampa (Gosse). Columna tenuis, vermiformis. 
Discus tentaculaque retractilia sine cylindro speciali. Pars in- 
ferior rara, inflata, translucida, non retractilis, imperforata. Ten- 
tacula duodecim. Os simplex. 

35. H . chrysanthellum (Peach). Tentacula cylindracea, obtusa, 
longitudine instar disci diametri; pellucida, vittis angulatis 
albis signata. 

Gen. xii. Peachia (Gosse). Columna crassa, cylindracea vel 
pyriformis. Discus tentaculaque sine cylindro speciali. Extre- 
mitas inferior perforata. Tentacula duodecim, valde contractilia, 
nec retractilia. Canalis gonidialis unica, ala expansa, protrusili, 
fimbriata vel lobata instructa. 

36. P. cylindrica (Reid). Ala gonidialis lobulis duodecim trian- 
gularibus miniatis incisa. {Hanc non vidi.) 

37. P. hastata (Gosse). Ala gonidialis lobulis viginti papilli- 
formibus brunneis incisa. 

38. P. undata (Gosse). Ala gonidialis lobulis quinque quadratis 
albis incisa. 

Gen. xiii. Arachnactis (Blainv.). Columna cylindracea. 
Extremitas inferior imperforata. Tentacula pauca, in duabus 
seriebus digesta; exteriora longa, interiora brevia. Natat more 
Medusae, per mare expansum. 

39. A. alhida (Forbes). Tentacula exteriora columna longiora, 
interiora instar quartae ejusdem. ( Hanc non vidi.) 

Gen. xiv. Cerianthus (Delle Chiaje). Columna cylindracea. 


Prof. Henfrey on the Cell-contents of Closterium. 419 

vermiformis, veste membranacea tubulari induta. Extremitas 
inferior perforata. Tentacula plurima, in duabus seriebus di- 
gesta, exteriora longa, interiora brevia. 

40. C. membranaceus (Gmelin). Semi-pedalis. Tentacula mar- 
ginalia omnium longissima : annulata. 

41. C. (?) vermicularis (Forbes). Semi-pollicaris. Cyclus ten- 
taculorum mediocrium extra longissima. (Vestis non relata 
est.) ( Hanc non vidi.) 

Fam. V. Lucernariadae. 

Basis adhserens. Corpus crateriforme. Tentacula capitata, 
in bcto fasciculos segregata. Discus octangularis. 

Gen. xv. Depastrum (Gosse). Corpus repente contractum, 
et supra et infra alvum. Tentaculorum fasciculi inter angulos 
disci positi, vix separati. 

42. D. cyatkiforme (Sars). Semipollicare. Brunneum. 

Gen. xvi. Lucernaria (Muller). Corpus expansum supra, 
gradatim diminutum infra. Tentaculorum fasciculi in apicibus 
angulorum positi, remoti. 

43. L . campanulata (Lamx.). Corpus campaniforme, profundum. 
Petiolus brevis. Colore hepatico. 

44. L . auricula (Fabr.). Corpus expansum, umbelliforme, mi- 
nime profundum. Petiolus instar corporis longitudine. Disci 
anguli aequidistantes. Interanguli (nonnunquam) sphserulis 
marginalibus instructi. Viridis vel rosea. 

45. L. quadricornis (Muller). Corpus expansum, fere planum. 
Petiolus corpore multo longior. Disci anguli in paria conglu- 
tinati. Ligni-brunnea. 


Has species prsecedentes, figuris illuminatis ad naturam de- 
pictis, in opere meo, ‘ Actinologia Britannica/ quod nunc in 
fasciculis bimestribus publicatur, illustrare propositum est. 


XLI. — Note on the Cell-contents of Closterium. 

By Arthur Henfrey, F.B.S. &c. 

The remarkable movements occurring in the interior of the cell 
constituting the individual plant in the genus Closterium have 
attracted the attention of most physiologists, and have given 
rise to much discussion. Not very long ago, it was re-asserted 
that the movements were associated with the presence of cilia*; 

* Quarterly Journal of Microscopic Science, iii. p. 54, 1855. 

27* 


