122 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



are three of the fixed nematophores to each calycle, 

 one above called the mesial one and two lateral ones. 

 In addition to the nematophores borne on the calycles 

 and ramuli, there are in many species others borne on 

 the stem (cauUne), and in the Statoplea 'phylactocarpa 

 borne on the protective cases (gonosomal). 



Mr. Hincks, in his " British Hydroid Zoophytes/' 

 states that in the genus Aglaophenia the nematophores 

 are appendages of the calycles only. Their presence, 

 however, can be clearly made out on the stems in many 

 species of that genus. 



Dr. Yon Lendenfeld {uhi sup.) divides the contents 

 of the nematophores {machopohjps) into three groups, 

 viz. 1. Guard animals with urticating capsules (as in 

 Plumularia) ; 2. Guard animals with adhesive cells (as 

 the lateral nematophores of Aglaophenia) ; and 3. Guard 

 animals with urticating capsules and adhesive cells (as 

 the mesial nematophores of Aglaophenia). 



Dr. Von Lendenfeld considers the purpose of the 

 guard polyps to be to assist in seizing the zoeee and 

 other larvEe upon which the zoophytes feed, and thinks 

 that they have a numbing action, as when once touched 

 the " zoea vainly tries to escape.'^ He also considers 

 the machopolyps serviceable for defence against annelids 

 and other larger animals. 



Dr. Metschnikoff's researches have been referred to 

 ou page 33. 



SuB-DivisioN. ELEUTHEROPLEA G7MN00ARPA, 



Genus I. Antennularia, Lamarck. 



Zoophyte plant-like. Stems simple or branching, 

 joiuted, clothed with verticillate branchlets, and rooted 



