158 



MARGELIS CAROLINENSIS. 



Fi?. 246. 



simple tentacles, terminating with a cluster of lasso-cells ; in somewhat 

 older Medusae the oral tentacles have two branches, as in Fig. 246, 

 when there are six tentacles to each marginal bulb, with a small bundle 

 of lasso-cells at the extremity. As the young Medusa grows, the bell 

 loses its conical shape, and becomes more spherical. 

 The marginal tentacles of the young are carried 

 curved inwards towards the veil ; as they increase 

 in length they lose this tendency, and are stretched 

 out in every direction. The additional tentacles are 

 added at the base of the conical bulb, those which 

 are near the apex being always the longest and 

 oldest. 



The Hydrarium (Fig. 247) grows to a very large 

 size, from eight to twelve inches in height ; it re- 

 sembles in its general mode of branching Eiidendrium ramosicm. The 

 main stem is stout, and tapers gradually ; the main branches begin 

 close to the root, and thus form clusters of stems, from which branch 

 off irregularly secondary branches, which are quite slender, and ramify 

 but little. The Hydrse are very large, and quite closely packed to- 

 gether, growing with equal profusion on the main stem and on the 



Fig. 247. FiK. 248. 



branches. The Hydrarium is found growing attached to Fucus vesicu- 

 losus in great abundance. The general color of the main stem is some- 

 what grayish green, the HydraB are of a delicate rosy tint. The Me- 

 dusae buds are developed, somewhat as in our BougainvilUa sujMrcili- 

 aris, along the stem (Fig. 248), without, however, being limited to the 

 proximity of the Hydra head, as the Medusae make their appearance 



Fig. 246. Proboscis of a Margelis, having already six tentacles at each sensitive bulb. 

 Fig. 247. Hydrarium of Margelis carolinensis, greatly reduced in size. 

 Fig. 248. Magnified heads and Medusae buds of Margelis carolinensis. 



