222 Royal Society, 



The polypary is a simple unorganized secretion deposited in layers 

 from the ectoderm. In the endoderm, the author points out a di- 

 stinct and well- developed glandular structure composed of true 

 secreting cells, which are themselves produced in the interior of 

 mother-cells, and elahorate a brown granular secretion which he 

 assumes as representing the biliary secretion of the higher animals. 

 He describes, as a system of special muscles, certain longitudinal 

 fibres, which may be distinctly seen in close connection with the 

 inner surface of the ectoderm. The tentacula are shown to be 

 continuous tubes communicating with the cavity of the stomach, 

 and thus possess the same essential structure as those of Hydra ; 

 they are formed of a direct continuation of the ectoderm of the 

 polype, lined by a similar continuation of the endoderm. The 

 appearance of transverse septa at regular intervals, which is so very 

 striking in these tentacula, must not be attributed to the existence 

 of true septa. It is due to a peculiar condition of the endodermal 

 layer, but the author has not been able to give a satisfactory ex- 

 planation of it. Through the whole of the canal which pervades 

 the axis of the stems and branches, a constant though a regular 

 rotatory movement is kept up in the contained fluid ; this movement 

 is not due to the propulsive action of vibratile cilia, and is explained 

 by the author as the effect of the active processes going on in the 

 secreting cells of the endoderm, processes which can scarcely be 

 imagined to take place without causing local alterations in the 

 chemical constitution of the surrounding fluid, and a consequent 

 disturbance in its stability. 



The reproductive system of Cordylophora consists of ovoid cap- 

 sules situated on the ultimate branches at some distance behind the 

 polypes ; some of these capsules contain ova, others spermatozoa ; 

 they are plainly homologous with the ovigerous sacs of the marine 

 Tubulariadce ; they present a very evident, though disguised medusoid 

 structure, having a hollow cylindrical body, whose cavity is conti- 

 nuous with that of the polype-stem, projecting into them below, and 

 representing the proboscidiform stomach of a Medusa, while a sy- 

 stem of branched tubes which communicate at their origin with the 

 cavity of the hollow organ, must be viewed as the homologues of 

 the radiating gastro-vascular canals, and the proper walls of the 

 capsule will then represent the disc. From comparative observations 

 made on other genera of Hydroida, the author maintains the presence 

 of a true medusoid structure in the fixed ovigerous vesicles of all the 

 genera he has examined, and he arrives at the generalization, that for 

 the production of true ova in the hydroid zoophytes, a particular 

 form of zooid is necessary, in which the ordinary polype -structure 

 becomes modified, and presents, instead, a more or less obvious 

 medusoid conformation, Hydra being at present the only genus 

 which appears to offer an exception to this law, though the author 

 believes that the exception is only apparent, and that further obser- 

 vations will enable us to refer the reproductive organization of this 

 zoophyte to the same type with that of Cordylophora and the marine 

 Hydroida. The author has satisfied himself that the ova-like bodies 



