88 CLASS I.— ORDER IL 



CLYTIA. 



Plant-like, branching, filiform, twining or climb- 

 ing ; cells campanulated, and standing on long pe- 

 dicles, generally curved. 



The Clytias form a very distinct group in our se- 

 cond Order. The polypi, fixed in their campanulated 

 cells, can seek their food at a little distance from their 

 colony, by means of a long pedicle which supports 

 their little habitation : this elastic pedicle enables 

 them to move in a circle of which the radius extends 

 from four to five millimetres, and at the same time 

 gives a rotatory motion to the water, which serves to 

 draw within its vortex the animalcula on which it 

 feeds. 



The substance of the Clytias is cartilaginous ; their 

 colour, a yellow fawn, seldom varying ; they are very 

 small, sometimes hardly perceptible to the naked eye, 

 and always parasites on the Thalassiophytes of the 

 various seas on the face of the globe. 



VERTICILLATED. 



1. Clytia verticillata. Cells campanulated, toothed, 

 upright, and supported on long peduncles, rather 

 twisted, four to each verticil. 



Seas of Europe. 



CONVOLVULUS. 



2. Clytia volubilis. Cells campanulated, toothed, 

 and dispersed ; peduncles very long, and very much 

 twisted. 



In the Atlantic, and on the Thalassiophytes of the 

 European seas. 



