ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS. 



203 



Staurldluin. The Medusa is the sexually mature form of 

 the cycle of the species ; its ova develope into polypes, 

 which constitute the intermediate form in their develop- 

 ment; that is to say, it is not transformed into the 



Fig. 14- 



animal from which it is derived, but produces gemmules. 

 Only in this generation does the species revert to the 

 sexual form. 



We shall understand this alternation of generations 

 if we begin with the simplest Medusa polypes. Such 

 a one is the annexed Hydractinea carnea, of which 

 the female individual is portrayed. Compared with 

 the intermediate form, Stauridium, the preliminary 

 phase of the Cladonema, reproducing itself asexually, 



