126 CCELENTERATA. 



plentifully in moderately deep water, and is often obtained attached to 

 the hooks of fishermen's lines. It is of a dull fleshy hue, hence the 

 popular name. When the polypes or individuals are contracted it has 

 a slightly rough appearance which enhances its resemblance to its 

 gruesome appellation. When the polypes are expanded all over its 

 surface the colony is converted into a zoophyte of great beauty. Each 

 polype has eight feathered tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The 



P^ig. 58. — View of Entire Colony with Tentacles Expanded. 



(After M'Intosh.) (Magnified.) 



body of the polype stands out from the general surface of the colony, 

 but on contraction is completely withdrawn. The general structural 

 principle of the interior of each polype is similar to that of Actinia, but 

 there are only eight mesenteries, of which two only are directives, and 

 the muscles of the other mesenteries are all on the same face ; there is 

 also only one siphonoglyph. 



Further, the ccelenteron is continued aborally into a coenosarcal canal 

 communicating with similar canals from the neighbouring polypes. 



