ATROPHY OF 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 

 4 * Reproductive" bud. In the ATHECATA 

 and simpler THECAPHORES, 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 Gonothyrsea Loveni, 

 Allman, liberation fails to take place and 

 thenceforward \\\vfixed 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 



