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  PROCEEDINGS 
  OF 
  THE 
  CALIFORNIA 
  

  

  of 
  the 
  polypodion, 
  which 
  characterizes 
  the 
  more 
  developed 
  animal. 
  A 
  section 
  

   of 
  the 
  basal 
  portion 
  a 
  few 
  inches 
  from 
  the 
  lower 
  end, 
  and 
  where 
  the 
  fleshy 
  mass 
  

   has 
  attained 
  its 
  average 
  thickness, 
  shows 
  that 
  it 
  consists 
  of 
  an 
  ectoderm 
  and 
  

   endoderm, 
  the 
  latter 
  surrounding 
  a 
  gelatinous 
  mass 
  immediately 
  around 
  the 
  axis, 
  

   which 
  mass 
  constitutes 
  by 
  far 
  the 
  larger 
  part 
  of 
  this 
  portion 
  of 
  the 
  animal. 
  

   The 
  .'jpace 
  between 
  the 
  two 
  membranes 
  is 
  divided 
  up 
  into 
  four 
  distinct 
  com- 
  

   partments, 
  the 
  division 
  being 
  formed 
  by 
  portions 
  of 
  the 
  outer 
  membrane, 
  or 
  

   ectoderm, 
  dipping 
  in 
  and 
  becoming 
  attached 
  to 
  the 
  inner 
  membrane. 
  An 
  

   examination 
  of 
  the 
  surface 
  corresponding 
  to 
  the 
  place 
  where 
  these 
  processes 
  are 
  

   given 
  off", 
  shows 
  that 
  they 
  correspond 
  to 
  a 
  line 
  of 
  minute 
  dots, 
  arranged 
  longi- 
  

   tudinally, 
  and 
  which 
  are 
  either 
  the 
  remains 
  of 
  aborted 
  polypes 
  or 
  possibly 
  

   water 
  pores, 
  the 
  rather 
  imperfect 
  state 
  of 
  the 
  specimens 
  not 
  enabling 
  me 
  to 
  

   determine 
  this 
  point. 
  These 
  canals 
  are 
  continuous 
  the 
  whole 
  length 
  of 
  the 
  

   stem, 
  three 
  of 
  them 
  in 
  a 
  very 
  rudimentary 
  condition, 
  viz 
  : 
  those 
  corresponding 
  

   to 
  the 
  sides 
  and 
  free 
  edge 
  of 
  the 
  

   polypodion 
  ; 
  whilst 
  the 
  fourth 
  

   cavity 
  contained 
  in 
  the 
  large 
  

   portion 
  of 
  the 
  polypodion 
  re- 
  

   mains 
  of 
  a 
  considerable 
  size. 
  

   [Fig. 
  1, 
  cross-section 
  through 
  

   polypiferous 
  portion 
  ; 
  a, 
  a, 
  a, 
  a, 
  

   canals. 
  Fig. 
  2, 
  section 
  through 
  

   basal 
  part 
  or 
  root 
  ; 
  a, 
  a, 
  a, 
  a, 
  ca- 
  

   nals, 
  b, 
  axis.] 
  From 
  this 
  ar- 
  

   rangement 
  of 
  the 
  basal 
  portion 
  of 
  the 
  animal, 
  I 
  have 
  no 
  doubt 
  that 
  it 
  com- 
  

   mences 
  its 
  existence 
  as 
  a 
  symmetrical 
  quadrangular 
  polype, 
  with 
  the 
  polypes 
  

   arranged 
  linearly 
  on 
  the 
  angles 
  of 
  the 
  stem 
  ; 
  and 
  that 
  this 
  form 
  continues 
  as 
  

   long 
  as 
  it 
  does 
  not 
  grow 
  more 
  than 
  a 
  few 
  inches 
  above 
  the 
  bottom 
  of 
  the 
  ocean. 
  

   As, 
  however, 
  the 
  stem 
  becomes 
  lengthened, 
  its 
  upper 
  part 
  is 
  exposed 
  to 
  cur- 
  

   rents 
  which 
  would 
  tend 
  to 
  bend 
  the 
  stem 
  in 
  one 
  direction, 
  and 
  this 
  would 
  be 
  

   followed 
  l)y 
  the 
  abortion 
  of 
  the 
  polypes 
  growing 
  on 
  the 
  most 
  exposed 
  side, 
  and 
  

   the 
  subsequent 
  development 
  of 
  the 
  animal 
  unsymmetricaliy. 
  

  

  Regular 
  Meeting, 
  Monday, 
  September 
  1st, 
  1873. 
  

   President 
  in 
  the 
  Chair. 
  

  

  Thirtj-one 
  members 
  present. 
  

  

  Andrew 
  F. 
  Craven 
  and 
  John 
  T. 
  Brady 
  were 
  elected 
  resident 
  

   members, 
  and 
  Dr. 
  Horatio 
  S. 
  Gates 
  a 
  life 
  member. 
  ^ 
  

  

  