SECTION IV 

 PHYLUM COELENTERATA 



THE possession of an internal cavity lined by a special layer 

 of cells, the endoderm, in which the digestive and absorptive 

 functions are centred, distinguishes all the remaining groups 

 of Metazoa from the Parazoa or Sponges. The former are grouped 

 together under the comprehensive title of Enterozoa, or animals 

 with enteric cavity. The simplest Enterozoa have an internal 

 cavity in which there is no separation between the enteric 

 or digestive cavity and the coelome or body-cavity one con- 

 tinuous space representing both and opening on the exterior by 

 the aperture of the mouth. These constitute the phylum 

 Ccelentemta. They are all animals of a low type of organisation 

 with a conspicuous radial symmetry, disguising, in some cases, 

 a more obscure bilateral arrangement, which may be more 

 primitive. 



The most familiar examples of Ccelenterata are the horny, 

 seaweed-like " Zoophytes," or, as they are sometimes called, 

 " Corallines," to be picked up on every sea-beach, Jelly-fishes, 

 Sea-anemones, and Corals. The phylum is divided into four classes 

 as follows : 



Class 1. HYDROZOA, including the Fresh- water Polypes, Zoo- 

 phytes, many Jelly-fishes, mostly of small size, a few Stony 

 Corals, and the peculiar Palseozoic fossils known as Graptolites. 



Class 2. SCYPHOZOA, including most of the large Jelly-fishes. 



Class 3. ACTINOZOA, including the Sea-anemones,' and the vast 

 majority of Stony Corals. 



Class 4. CTENOPHORA, including certain peculiar Jelly-fishes 

 known as " Comb-jellies." 



CLASS I.-HYDROZOA. 



1. EXAMPLE OF THE CLASS Obelia. 



General Structure. Obelia is a common zoophyte occurring 

 in the form of a delicate, whitish or light brown, almost fur-like 

 VOL. i. 129 K 



