LUCERNARI.E AND THEIR ALLIES. lU 



present to the eye. By contrast, also, these cells are apparently endowed with a 

 superabundance of light. Their contents ((/-) are perfectly homogeneous and 

 transparent, and therefore the deeply-colored nucleus (r/') is rendered highly 

 prominent, both from its isolateness as well as from its marked difference in refrac- 

 tion. We are reminded, in this respect, of the intensely brilliant cells of the 

 gastrophragma in the peduncle (^| 200). 



206 (A). The imcleus (</') is not in itself so deeply colored, but is irregularly 

 coated by an accumulation of dark, fine, granular matter ; and that, at the same 

 time, gives it a jagged appearance. This is a peculiarity, though not so strong, 

 which it has in common with the nuclei in other parts of the body, as in the 

 endophragma of the peduncle and tlie anchors, and in the ectophragma of the 

 aboral side of the umbella. Its true form and aspect are identical with those 

 (^[ 205) of the ectophragma of the tentacular shaft. The position of the nucleus 

 is the same as in the ectophragma! cells {fg. 88, tV) of the spheroidal tip, l. e., it 

 lies nearer the distal than the proxinuil end, or about half-way between the end 

 and the middle of the cell; and thus all tlic nuclei, taken together at one view, 

 appear to stand in an irregular row, parallel with the surface of the layer which 

 they compose. It differs, though, in one respect, in that it is nearer the attached 

 than the free end of the cell, which is the same as in the gastrophragma of the 

 peduncle (^[ 200). AVe have stated in another place (^| 30) that the pigment 

 is uniform in cok)r throughout the body, and therefore the color of the nucleus, 

 or rather its granular envelope, corresponds to the prevailing tint. 



206 (B). The intercellular pvjment (e") of the gastrophragma merits pointed 

 attention here, not so much because we have any positive function to assign to it, 

 as for its peculiar constitution. It has been customary among physiologists to 

 attribute a biliary function to any highly colored, especially brownish, masses of 

 irregular cells or cell-like bodies, if they coat the inner face of the digestive cavity. 

 Now if, instead of finding in the hollow of the tentacle such a dense coating of 

 pigment-like, and even cell-like bodies, we met with it on the inner face of the 

 general cavity of the body, it would be very natural to surmise that its components 

 might possibly possess a glandular nature, perhaps biliary, or even nrinigcrous. 

 Since, however, they are comparatively scant in the latter region, we guess nothing 

 of the kind ; and as such functions Avould appear out of place in a tentacle, we 

 have no such teleological appliances to thrust in there, nor any other, inasmuch as 

 these granules present no obvious Tise. It is true that some seem to possess a 

 transparent envelope, which gives them a marked cell-like appearance ; but in this 

 respect, as in all others, they are, like those which embrace the proximal ends of 

 the ectophragnud cells {fi(j. 88, e") of the spheroidal tips, buried deep in the 

 thickness of the tissue. 



§ 27. Histoloiju of the CollctocysioplioreH (AncJiors) {firjs. 47, 82, 83, 94, 95, 96, 97). 



207. General Features. — Both in an histological as well as in an organical point 

 of view the fully grown colletocj/stophore is divided into three distinct regions, viz., 

 the pedicle, the nematocystophore, and the colletocystophoric mass. In tlie young 



