ORDER OF REPRODUCTION. 15 



have called the "Select" Polypi tes, generally 

 more or less modified or atrophied, whose 

 special function is to produce not eggs, but 

 special buds of either sex, which, in the case 

 of the females, do produce eggs. 



" Reproductive " bud. 2. Repro- 

 ductive Buds (" Gonophores "). Those special 

 buds, whose main function is the reproduction 

 of the species by means of ova. 



Modification of " Select " polypite. 

 The important duties imposed upon the select 

 polypites have been instrumental in more or 

 less considerably modifying their original 

 character as alimentary polypites ; so much so, 

 that in many species they have lost the 

 tentacles, and even the mouth and stomach, 

 and have become mere stumps. (Loss of 

 tentacles, mouth and stomach.) Under 

 these circumstances, it will be seen how very 

 necessary for its maintenance, and for that of 



the face of such authorities as the above-mentioned. These 

 terms appear, however, to mislead, since both expressions 

 unquestionably imply the seed or ova-bearing Buds. Now 

 these are not the seed or ova-bearing Buds, but polypites which 

 bear those Buds. The term " Select," or Selected, is free from 

 this signification, and at the same . time distinguishes these 

 Buds from the ordinary alimentary polypites. 



