LUCERNARIvE AND THE in ALL! KS. 65 



long prismatic cells which extend through its whole depth are the ])rime, and only 

 elements concerned. 



111. Anchor imischs {fi(j. 47, jh'). The peculiar arrangement of the fibres of 

 the muscles has already been indirectly described when tracing the course of the 

 oblique strife on the stem, and in the semi-transparent area (^ lOo). After stating 

 that they are identical in character with those of the tentacles, we have very little 

 more to add, and that is principally in regard to the thickness of the layer, if it 

 may be so called. The fibres are not so widely separate as in the tentacles, and 

 consequently approach, in their combination, more nearly to a continuous stratum. 

 They certainly are much heavier, and wherever a section runs along a band, the 

 muscle appears much thicker. The mode of its termination and intrusion (at A-') 

 between the approximated margins of the chondromyoplax (/>') and chondroj)hys 

 (c), at the distal side of the base of the anchor, is the same as that of the tentacles, 

 in a general sense, but differs somewhat in the trend, since it does not lie so 

 obliquely, but traverses the intervening space much more nearly at a right angle 

 to the surfaces of these layers. Not alone, though, do we find this intervening 

 muscular partition at the distal side ; it is also to be traced all along the border of 

 the ledge {fig. 25, /iJ^) of chondrophys which supports the stem, and thence inwardly, 

 skirting the "isthmus" (^ 105) of muscle which joins the marginal plicate band, and 

 becomes continuous Avith the similar curtain wliich tliat band protrudes (5[ 82) be- 

 tween these gelatiniform layers, at all points of the periphery of the umbella. 



112. The chondromyoplax (fig. 47, ¥) of the anchors exists in a far more bulky 

 proportion than in any otlicr region of the body, unless we consider that in tlie pro- 

 boscis as its equal in this respect. It lies in exactly the same relation to the otlier 

 Avails as in the tentacles, but, unlike it, has but one regular face, the outer one, 

 whilst the inner contour is constantly changing its direction, at one point running 

 deeply into the gelatiniform mass, sometimes plunging almost through its thickness, 

 and then retreating at an acute angle back to its former level. The acute angled 

 sinuses, that are so prevalent in the section which we have illustrated, are the ex- 

 pressions of as many conical pits and lateral diverticuli, Tliey are abundant in all 

 parts of the colletocystigerous mass, but fail in its stem. Along the anterior side 

 of the latter the chondromyoplax is only a little thicker tlian in the thinnest parts 

 on the umbella. From tliis region it thickens rapidly, going in two directions, one 

 around the stem, and the other directly out into the ovate mass. Witliin the latter 

 its general depth, leaving out the points occupied by the conical pits, varies but 

 little, and is about two-thirds that of tlie chondrophys (c), just behind this organ. 

 At the distal side of the stem it is fully as thick as the edge of the chondrophys 

 which lies next to it ; or nearly three times its own measure at the anterior side of 

 the stem. The mode of termination at this point is the same as along the nmbellar 

 margin {% 66), but it is not penetrated by ridges of the muscular layer as in the 

 latter. 



113. The gafifrophraipna (fig. 47, i^) of the anchors is remarkable for its extreme 

 thickness, and the singular cliaracter of the prismatic cells whicli compose it (see 

 ^ 211). Within the hmits of the stem it is only a little thicker than in the broad 

 camerse of the umbella, but just as it enters the cavity of the ovate mass it rapidly 



