CAMPANTJLARIA FLEXUOSA. 169 



axillary, very large, elongate, oval, smooth, rather wide 

 and truncate at the top, attached by a short, ringed 

 stalk (3-4 rings), and containing numerous sporosacs; 

 male smaller; POLYPITES with the tentacles slightly 

 webbed. 



C. FLEXUOSA, which was included under Obelia gelatinosa 

 by Johnston, is one of the commonest of our littoral 

 zoophytes. In amazing profusion it spreads over a con- 

 siderable portion of the littoral zone, now half buried in 

 the mud beneath the loose stones, now covering with its 

 delicate forests the sides of the tidal pools filled with the 

 most pellucid of water. It forms also a dense undergrowth 

 on the surface of the larger rocks, beneath the pendent 

 weed, where it is left flattened down and half dried on the 

 recession of the sea. A beautiful sight it is to see the 

 prostrate forests revive, and waving to and fro with the flux 

 and reflux of the incoming tide. We cease to be sur- 

 prised at its abundance when we examine the reproductive 

 capsules (female)*, which are of enormous size, as compared 

 with the calycles, and often crowded on the shoots, each 

 one containing a large number of planules. They are also 

 occasionally met with on the creeping stolon . 



The tentacles of the polypite are united towards the 

 base by a membrane of extreme tenuity, similar to that 

 which exists in Campanulina acuminata. The species is 

 subject to but slight variation. In some situations the 

 shoots have a tendency to run out above into tendril-like 

 fibres. The pedicels which support the hydrothecae also 

 vary considerably in length, and the ramification is more 

 or less luxuriant; but the flexuous habit, the broad, 

 obconic, and even-rimmed calycle, and the gigantic capsule 

 are constant and striking features. 



* The male capsule is much smaller than the female (vide Plate XXXII I. 

 fig. f>), and somewhat different in shape. 



