(10 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



there is an extension known as a sail and from the 

 lower part hang- a great many tentacles, making up 

 the various types of polyps of the colony. Many 

 of these tentacles are covered with thousands of 

 nematocj^sts or stinging cells and the poison emitted 

 by these cells is extremely irritating. A swimmer 

 coming in contact with a number of large individuals 

 of this species may become temporarily paralyzed 

 and as a result may drown. 



The float may be six inches or more in length, 

 whereas the tentacles may extend as far as forty or 

 fifty feet. 



Several were found stranded on the beach at 

 Cape May on September 14, 1930, after a severe 

 storm. They were bright red and blue in color. 



Vellela mutica Bosc 



PLATE III. Fig. 7 



Another Gulf Stream colonial hydroid that is 

 occasionally found in New Jersey coastal waters 

 after storms. It has a blue oblong float about five 

 inches long and is divided into concentric communi- 

 cating compartments. There is a three cornered 

 sail. On the underside there is a mouth and a 

 number of small tentacular appendages. 



Porpita linnaeana Lesson 



PLATE IV. Fig. 1 



Somewhat similar to the above but with no sail. 

 This form is made up of a circular disc from which 



