CORALLINES. 



29 



the branchlet where they grow. Dispersed among these cells, at certain 

 periods of the year, others are seen of different shape: these are the seed- 

 cups, one of which is represented in our figure. In these elegant vases are 

 formed the germs of innumerable progeny, which, when mature, swim forth 

 like little flakes of jelly (planitlce] covered externally with countless cilia, 

 enabling them to roam at large in the surrounding water, till they meet with 

 a fit resting-place whereon to settle down and found another colony as won- 

 derful as that from which they sprung. 



. - 



FIG. 22. LAOMEDEA. 



FIG. 21. SEKTCLAKIA OPERCULATA. 



Closely resembling the sea- wreaths so much 

 so, indeed, that they might easily be mistaken 

 the one for the other are 



The Bell Corallines (Campanularid)* a 

 specimen of which is represented in the figure 

 appended (Fig. 22). There are, however, im- 

 portant differences between the two families, 



which it will be necessary to explain. In the Scrtularians, as we pointed out, 

 the Polype-cells are sessile, closely sitting on the stem. In the Campanula- 

 rians every Polype-cup is raised on a small stalk or pedicle, so as to resemble 

 a little wine-glass, the horny stem being ringed at intervals, thus giving a 

 certain flexibility to all the branchlets. The little vases, where the young are 

 formed, are always found to sprout just from the angle where the Polype-cells 

 join to the central stem, and are much larger and of different shape. The most 

 important difference, however, is, that in this family the young, instead of 

 being ciliated germs (planula:}, are active organisms, so unlike their parents 

 as to be quite unrecognizable as belonging to the same stock : insomuch, in- 

 deed, that before describing them, it will be necessary to make the student 

 acquainted with another series of beautiful creatures that await our notice. 



Acalephae.t The ocean in every climate swarms with infinite 

 multitudes of animals which, from their minuteness and trans- 



Campanula, a little, bell. 



\ a.Ka\ri<pTi, akalephe, a nettle. 



