52 BRITISH HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 



noticeable at the apex of the gonophores 

 before liberation. About midway down the 

 body, there is a ring of much longer tentacles, 

 clubbed at their ends. This feature appears 

 to be an important specific character. These 

 long tentacles number from about nine to 

 twelve, each alternate one being raised, and 

 the others lowered, with a slow finger-like 

 motion. 



On liberation, these little creatures 

 appear rather sluggish in action and ill-adapted 

 for locomotion, since they have no bell, nor 

 are the tentacles specially suited for walking. 

 It appears to be a matter of indifference to 

 them whether they rest upon the base of the 

 body, or on the tentacles. Hincks states that 

 they can use the tentacles as oars. This 

 method of progression was not noticed in the 

 Hastings specimens, although these buds were 

 given off in a glass vessel without persuasion. 

 T. coronata appeared along the Hastings 

 coast in the latter half of the year 1897, in 

 great profusion, and was found from about 

 half tide to low tide. Towards the end of 

 the year, rough weather set in, and destroyed 

 all the colonies, which, however, by this time, 



