ZOOPHYTES. 



329 



varying in different individuals — arranged in one or two 

 close-set circles, like a crown. These organs, which, as 

 you see, fall into elegant double curves, like the branches 

 of a chandelier, are roughened with knobbed rings, some- 

 thing like the horns of a goat; this structure we will 

 presently submit to more close examination. 



In the midst of the space surrounded by the tentacular 

 crown there is protruded, at the pleasure of the animal, 

 a large, fleshy, funnel-shaped mouth, the lips of which 

 are highly sensitive, continually changing their form; 

 protruding, contracting, bending in upon themselves, 

 now closing, now opening the mouth, and, as it were, 

 testing the immediate vicinity, like a very delicate organ 

 of some unknown sense. 



The whole polype is much too minute for us to attempt, 

 with any probability of success, the amputation of one of 

 the tentacles with scissors. But by 

 cutting off a polype, cell and all, and 

 putting it into the compressorium, 

 we may be able, by means of the 

 graduated pressure, to flatten the 

 whole, and thus discern the gnarled 

 structure of the tentacles. A very 

 high magnifying power is needed 

 for this. 



Here, then, we have one of the ( 

 tentacles flattened between the glass 

 plates,but still retainingits integrity. 

 We find that the thickenings are 

 similar in character to those of the 

 tentacles of Sarsia, which we lately 

 observed. They are, in fact, accu- 

 mulations of cnidce, those peculiar 

 weapons of power, which T shall presently describe in 

 full; but here they are symmetrically arranged in single 

 rows, each pointing upward and outward. 



TENTACLE OF LA01IEDEA ; 



flattened. 



