ATHUI'HV nV BUDS. 25 



or vessel because it contains not only the 

 aborted ** select " polypite, but also the repro- 

 ductive buds bearing the ova. It is therefore 

 termed a " capsule." 



Modification and atrophy of 

 ** Reproductive" bud. In the Athecata 

 and simpler Thecaphokes, the "reproductive" 

 bud is generally a Medusa, but in some species 

 of Athecata the bud remains attached. 



In the Thecaphora, however, we soon 

 reach a certain point — the turning point — 

 where, as in such cases as Gonothj/nea Lomii, 

 Allman, liberation fails to take place and 

 thenceforward \X\^ fixed bud is the distinguish- 

 ing feature. The bud having now become a 

 fixture, loses its individuality and the bell and 

 tentacles dwindle away and the creature wastes 

 down to a mere sack, which contains in its 

 walls the ova. The bud, in both Athecata 

 and Thecaphora, is nearly always enclosed 

 in a fine envelope, which eventually ruptures. 



We have seen, therefore, in the final 

 stages, the " Select " bud and the " repro- 

 ductive" bud, both becoming obsolete, and 

 almost all that remains ostensibly in their 

 place, are the ova within the Capsule. Under 



