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FAMILY I.— CAPNEADtE. 



The members of this Family do not, at any period of 

 their existence, so far as is known, deposit a corallum, or 

 any trace of calcareous matter. They are, moreover, per- 

 manently simple ; for though there is reason to believe that 

 they increase by budding, the polypes so formed quickly 

 sever their connexion with the parent, and become inde- 

 pendent though associated individuals. Thus they are 

 essentially Anemones, such as we have already considered ; 

 yet there is something in their aspect which at once 

 betokens their affinity with the Corals. In particular, the 

 tentacles have the singular structure and knobbed form 

 already noticed as peculiar to this tribe : and, contrary to 

 the universal rule in the Astrceacea, they increase in size 

 outwardly, — the outer row containing the largest. 



The body, adherent by a broad base, is fleshy or pulpy, 

 copiously lubricated with mucus, and sometimes separating 

 the outer skin into a deciduous epidermis. The surface is 

 not furnished with suckers, nor pierced with loopholes. 

 There are no acontia, but the craspeda are numerous and 

 large, and their contained cnidce are remarkably developed. 



ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA. 



Tentacles truncate Capnea. 



Tentacles crowned with bilobed heads A weliania. 



Tentacles crowned with globose heads Corynactit. 



