NEW INTERPRETATION OF CNIDARIA 



233 



place of the classification of Scyphozoa those species where the 

 two generations are found equally well developed, where both 

 the periderm as well as the formation of cormi can be observed 

 in the polyp generation, and where the medusa form stands 

 closest to the polyp form. A definite classification of the more 

 primitive Scyphozoa will only be possible when we know the 

 whole life-cycle of a majority of species belonging to them. Now 



..^^^M-A 



Fig, 42, A stoloniferous octocoral (Cornularia cornucopiae) with 



peridermal theca. A, a colom'- (cormus) nat. size (after Delage and 



Herouard). B, empty periderm. C-D two polyps (orig.). 



we are able to propose a provisional system only. It can be 

 said in connection with the numerous attempts to develop a 

 system of Scyphozoa which have been proposed till now (this 

 group has been usually and improperly called Scyphomedusae) 

 that all these attempts completely disregard the actually pri- 

 mary polyp generation (this is usually mentioned as a polypoid 

 larva, as a "scyphistoma"). Scyphopolyps are not even men- 

 tioned among the enumerated characteristic properties of in- 

 dividual subgroups. 



Two peculiarities of these systems can be mentioned as 

 common to almost all the attempts which we have not the space 

 to enumerate here. The first is that the order Lucernariidea 



