(6 ee ) 
CLASS XII. ACALEPHA. 
Remarks. These animals are often called sea- 
nettles ; because it is said that a stinging sensa- 
tion is often excited while handling them. They 
are the largest of the zoophytes. If there is such 
an animal as that described by seamen, under the 
name of kraken, it probably belongs to this class ; 
though some suppose it may be a species of the 
sepia, of the class Mollusca, order Nudata. The 
bodies of animals of this class are soft, fleshy or 
gelatinous. In some we perceive something of a 
fibrous structure ; others appear to be mere “eela- 
finous masses. 
ORDER 1. AFFIXA. 
Having the habit and power of attaching ae 
selves by their bases to resting places. 
AcTINIA, (sea-anemone, sea-dasie,) body ob- 
long, cylindrical, fleshy, contractile, fixed by the 
base; mouth terminal, expansile, surrounded 
With numerous cirri, and without any other aper- 
ture. In sea. 
Lucernarta, body gelatinous, wrinkled, branch- 
ed; mouth placed beneath. 
ORDER 2. LIBERATA. 
Never fixing themselves to a resting place, but 
floating or swimming upon water, by the specific 
levity of particular parts, or by air-bubbles contain- 
ed in them. 
