34 -^ Guide to the Zoological Collections in the 



axis or core, and a spicular skin or rind. The Gorgon- 

 acea, like the Alcyonacea, are usually found encrusting 

 coral-reefs, and rocky banks in shallow water, but they 

 also occur in considerable abundance in the great depths 

 of the sea up to 1,200 fathoms, and a few species have 

 been found in the ab3^sses of the ocean. 



In Cases 5-6 the Gorgonacea are exhibited. Of shal- 

 low-water forms (surf-line to 40 fathoms) the following 

 Indian genera are represented : — Solenocaulon, Sclero- 

 gorgia [Rhipidigorgia and Pterogorgia), Melithsea, 

 Mopsea, /sis, Acanthogorgia, Afuricea, Paramuricea, 

 Leptogorgia, Eunicella, Gorgonia, Juncella, Ctenocella, 

 Gorgonella, Verucella^ Scirpearella. While of deep-sea 

 forms fine alcoholic specimens of the following beautiful 

 species occur : — Strophogorgia ver villi, Ceratoisis grandi- 

 Jlora, Acanella fruticosa, Calypterinus allmani, Stenella^ 

 Thouarella, Callistephanus koreni. 



To these beautiful specimens, which were dredged by 

 the "Investigator," most of them in the Laccadive Sea at 

 about 700 fathoms, attention is particularly directed. 



3. CNIDARIA SCYPHOMEDUS/E. 



[J^orth^rn mh of Ca0£ 7]. 



The Scyphomedus£Cy or Acraspedote Medusa;, are ani- 

 mals of the Anthozoan type modified for a free-swimming 

 life at the surface of the ocean. They may be looked 

 upon as Anthozoan polyps that have become converted 

 into swimming-bells by a flattening out and cupping of the 

 body, just as the Craspedote Hydroniedusx may be de- 

 rived from the Hydrozoan polyp type. 



In the case of the Scypho^nedusae, however, this meta- 

 morphosis has no special relation to reproduction, and the 

 Scyphomedusx are usually throughout the whole cycle of 

 their existence free-swimming Medusse^ giving rise by re- 

 production not to polyp stocks, but to Medusa; like the 

 parent. 



