FORSKALTA. 13I 



Genus FORSKALIA {KoUiker.) 



The tentacular sacculi are without involucra, and end in a single filament. The necto- 

 calyces are arranged in many series around the coenosarc. 



FoRSKALiA Edwardsii {Kollikef). PI. XII, fig. 10. 



The cliief points of interest in Kolliker's description of this species (' Schwimmpolypen/ 

 p. 2, et seq.) are the following : 



The pneumatophore has a hrownish-rose colour. The nectocalyces are arranged so as to 

 form a cylinder containing eight or nine longitudinal, and twelve to sixteen transverse, rows, 

 and each has a yellow spot upon its mouth. 



The polypites have brownish-red hepatic striae. The sacculi are red. The hydrophyllia 

 are flat, broad, and terminated by three rounded points ; the hydrocysts are colourless, but 

 occasionally of a lively red at their apices. The manubria of the androphores are yellowish- 

 white, but orange internally. The animal, which was very common at Messina, attained a 

 length of from six to twelve inches or more. 



The coenosarc is a straight or slightly undulating tube, with relatively thick walls, in which 

 longitudinal and transverse muscular fibres are clearly visible. It is exceedingly contractile, 

 and, in shortening, takes on the form of a close spiral. 



The pneumatophore is ovate or pyriform, and a third of a line in length, and the air 

 contained in the pneumatocyst is divided into a large superior, and a smaller, inferior, bubble. 



The nectocalyces have the form of a cone, whose apex is turned towards the coenosarc, 

 its base outwards. To speak more exactly, the basal surface, which has a rounded quadri- 

 lateral circumference, presents in the centre a mammillary elevation, truncated at the end, 

 which exhibits a circular aperture leading into the nectosac. According to the greater or 

 less projection of this mammillary elevation, the nectocalyx, viewed from above, has a 

 rhomboidal form, or more that of a simple cone. In a lateral view the nectocalyces appear to 

 be oval or rectangular, with rounded edges ; the oral region not unfrequently projecting a 

 little. Many of the nectocalyces are also quite irregularly rounded cuboids, so that their form 

 can hardly be defined in words. 



At the upper end of the cylinder formed by the regularly arranged perfect nectocalyces, 

 numerous undeveloped nectocalyces may always be discovered. 



The nectosac has the form of a short gourd, and the four radiating nectocalycine canals 

 take a straight course to the circular canal. 



The hydrocysts are fixed directly to that portion of the coenosarc which lies beyond the 

 nectocalycine cylinder, whilst the polypites, with their hydrophyllia and tentacles, are attached 



