MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. PAW 
shape is given to these bodies. The free and distal angle diagonally opposite 
the angle of attachment is rounded and very obtuse ; the angle of attachment 
is more acute. 
A tube extends from the point of attachment diagonally to the opposite 
angle of the covering scale, where it ends blindly. This tube is undivided, 
unbranched, with entire edges. 
Polypites. — The polypites (p) are flask-shaped bodies, attached by a short 
peduncle to the polyp-stem. ‘Their free end is open, forming a mouth. The 
rim of this orifice, or the lips, are without appendages. The basal peduncle 
is short, and of somewhat smaller diameter than the polypite itself. Near 
the base the polypite bears a “‘ Wimperwiilst,” or ferule-like thickening of 
the walls.* At that point reddish pigment is found, and buds which are im- 
mature tentacular knobs arise. The tentacles also originate at that point. 
The polypites are regularly distributed along the polyp-stem, dividing the 
stem into sections or regions, which may be known as inter-polyp regions. 
The oral extremity of the polypite, except when it is retracted, extends be- 
yond the hydrophyllia. The opening of the mouth sometimes expands, by 
which the lips become trumpet-shaped. The rim of the mouth is entire. 
Fragments of food were seen inside the polypite. Rows of large cellular 
bodies, in parallel lines, extend along the inner wall of the polypite. These 
are possibly hepatic in function. 
Tentacles. — The tentacles (ta) are long, filamentous bodies, arising from the 
base of the polypite. They are highly contractile, and generally, when the 
animal is at rest, extended. Each polypite has a single tentacle. There are 
two kinds of tentacles, one of which bears tentacular knobs, the other being 
destitute of the same.t The former, which are the tentacles proper, are those 
which arise from the polypites ; the latter, the filaments of the hydrocyst, 
which have no tentacular appendages. 
The peculiar festoon-like way in which the tentacles are often carried, is 
noticed by A. Agassiz. This habit is marked in the genus, and is more 
common in Nanomia than in the southern genus Agalma. Although I have 
studied all the Mediterranean species of Physophores alive, I recall none 
where this habit is so well marked as in Nanomia. 
Tentacular Knobs. — The adult tentacnlar knobs (Plate II. Fig. 9) of Nano- 
mia resemble those of Agalmopsis, Fewkes.{ The various parts which enter 
* This increase in size of the polypite at the “ Wimperwiilst ” is largely owing 
to the increased development of the middle layer of the body. 
+ The tentacles which are destitute of tentacular knobs do not arise from 
_polypites, but from the hydrocysts. 
In the growth of the tentacles the tentacles do not first form, and then the 
tentacular knobs bud from it, but the knobs first form on the “ Wimperwiilst,” and 
then the tentacle is pushed out, bearing these bodies, already imperfectly formed. 
t One form of Agalmopsis, Sars, Stephanomia pictum, Metsch., Halistemma ter- 
gestinum, Claus, Agalmcepsis fragile, Fewkes. These various aliases of Agalmopsis 
are mentioned, lest confusion be introduced by the above statement. 
