52 



LIFE BY THE SEASHORE. 



by the large cups 

 and characteristic 

 " flexuous" branch- 

 ing. The figure 

 shows its general 

 characters very 

 clearly. Together 

 with the two pre- 

 ceding species it 

 serves to indicate 

 the characters of 

 the family, and 

 being not incon- 

 spicuous, is of 

 some importance 

 in giving rock 

 pools their char- 

 acteristic appear- 

 ance. Though the 

 sea-firs must, on 

 account of their 

 horny skeleton, be 

 somewhat indi- 

 gestible, yet they 

 are eaten by at 

 least the sea-slugs. 

 They also serve 

 as shelters for 

 hosts of the more 

 delicate animals, 

 many of whom 

 pass their lives 

 clinging to their 

 branches. The 

 forests of Cam- 

 panularians are 

 therefore worth 

 a little study, 



Fio. 18. Magnified representation of a branch of even if Only for 



Campanularia flexuosa. a. empty cup ; b, cup with J.T r p Q<3mi 



expanded zooid; c, gonotheca. Note the ringed tm L<-SUII. 

 "flexuous" stem. After Hincks. Though to the 



