478 



CCELENTERA TES. 



cilia, corresponding with the ciliated combs of the body proper. An additional 

 charm is added to this beautiful form by its lively graceful movements, the ribbon 

 assuming all possible curves. If roughly touched, it rolls up spirally, beginning 

 at one end. When undisturbed, its ribbon -like outgrowths are sometimes 

 stretched out, sometimes more or less rolled up, or else the one is rolled up and the 

 other extended. It can, like other Ctenophora, keep itself in motion by the mere 

 play of its cilia, but it also uses the undulating movements of its ribbon-like 

 body. The transformation of the larva after leaving the egg is complicated. The 



venus' girdle (J nat. size). 



young larva is shaped like a balloon, and possesses two principal tentacles provided 

 with lateral filaments ; it has further, on each rib, four to five swimming-plates. 

 At this stage this larva resembles the adults of some other species of Ctenophora, 

 and only by degrees, after passing through many other stages, assumes the form 

 of the girdle. 



Stinging Series, — Group Cnidaria. 



The Cnidaria, or stinging Ccelenterates, which comprise the sea-anemones, 

 corals, jelly-fish, and the little hydra of English ponds, receive their name from the 

 so-called stinging-capsules, found in their skin, which may be regarded as the 

 homologues of the adhesive cells of the Ctenophores. Before describing these 

 offensive and defensive weapons, it is necessary to obtain some idea of the animals 

 which use them, these Cnidarians having departed less from the simple Ccelenterate 

 type than have the Ctenophora, in which this type is much disguised. Imagine, 



