DEGENERATION IN THE LAR\TE OF GONIONEMA. 1/7 



the outlines of the degenerated polyps, as seen in profile against 

 the light, appeared smooth and devoid of cnidocils (Figs. 3 and 

 5.) But these same individuals soon changed their position in 

 such a way as to display the full battery of trigger-organs, show- 

 ing that the reason for the temporary disappearance was the 

 flowing of the soft tissues, which caused the cnidocils to be 

 engulfed in the substance, from which they were afterwards 

 pushed outwards again to the surface. In the ball at the ex- 

 tremity of the columnar prolongation shown in Fig. 3 the 

 cnidocils had temporarily disappeared, but with the subsequent 

 changes of this individual they soon became visible again and 

 remained so for a long time. The rod of tissue connecting this 

 ball with the basal portion of the polyp became longer and more 

 slender, and the mass at the tip assumed a more nearly spherical 

 contour, as in Fig. 4. Following this appearance a change 



-? ' w 



^-^v_. 



Fi'-,. 4. 



took place which was frequently manifested by the degenerating 

 creatures and which ultimately brought about their disinte- 

 gration. The ball at the tip of the rod-like process became 

 constricted off and fell to the ground, there to undergo the 

 same series of changes which characterized the previous history 

 of the complete individual. The basal portion of the polyp, with 

 the neck of tissue projecting from one part, became retracted into 

 a more regular mass, and went on with its flowing movements 

 and protrusion of pseudopodium-like processes. At first it was 

 closely applied to the glass, and flattened at the edges (Fig. 5). 

 It soon changed into the form shown in Fig. 6, which was the 

 most common of all, and which was at first mistaken for an 

 amoeba. As the creatures moved slowly along the bottom, 

 any minute particles of matter, organic or inorganic, which came 

 in their path were engulfed by the protoplasm, and remained 



