5 i6 



RADIATES : ACALEPHS. 



Fig. 505. 



group includes the hydroids known as Sertularians and 

 Campanularians. 



The Sub-Order of Siphonophorse comprises hydroid 

 acalephs which exist as free moving communities, each 

 community being made up of individuals of different 



kinds, yet all conspiring to 

 give the appearance of one 

 complicated animal. 



The Genus PJiysalia is a 

 prominent one. It contains 

 the Portuguese Man-of-War, 

 P. arctJiusa, Til, one of the 

 most remarkable and best 

 known of this group. It con- 

 sists of a pear-shaped and ele- 

 gantly crested air-sac, floating 

 lightly upon the surface of 

 the water, and giving off from 

 its under surface numerous 

 long and varied appendages. 

 These appendages are the 

 different members of the com- 

 munity, and perform differ- 

 ent functions, some of them 

 eating for the whole, others 

 producing medusa buds, and 

 others being the locomotive 

 members, the latter having 

 tentacles that stretch out be- 

 Ti i. hind the floating community 

 even to the length of thirty 

 feet. The air-sac is three or four inches long, or more. 

 On the tentacles of both Acalephs and Polyps there are 

 numerous microscopic lasso-cells Cnidae each con- 

 taining a spirally coiled lasso which can be darted forth 

 at will, and which aids in securing prey. 



Portuguese Man-of-war, 



Southern coast of the United states, 



