73 , ZOOLOOr. 



thread-ring around the disk, and with ganglia near the aense-organn. In 

 Hydra the nervous system is represented by nerw-muscle ceUs ; seme- 

 organs usuaUy present, represented by simple eyes and auditory vesicles 

 (lithocystii), the two not usuaUy coexisting. Nettling organs (nemxttocysts) 

 usually present, and especially cliaraeteristic of the class, being most abun- 

 dant on the tentacles. 



Tlie sexes rarely united, usually distinct. Often a high degree of poly- 

 morphism in the individual hydrosome, the animal being differentiated not 

 only into polypites and goiwsomes, but, in the free-swimming forms, into 

 locomotive zooid^. Beproduction takes place hy budding, and by fertilized 

 eggs developed in glands attached to or dependent from the primary ra- 

 diating canals. T!ie species undergo either a slight or marked metamor- 

 phosis, the free gonophores being rnedusce {or mediisoids), which produce 

 eggs, from which in some Discophora (such as Aurelia) arise successively 

 a rnonila, gasti-ula, planula, scyphistoma, strobila, and adult medusa, 

 representing distinct stages of growth. 



Order 1. Hydroidea. — The individual either not differentiated into 

 zooids, as in Protohydra and Hydra, or consisting of nutri- 

 tive and reproductive zooids forming a compound, station- 

 ary, branching, moss-like body (hydrosome), the medusa- 

 buds remaining on the gonosomes or becoming free meduste, 

 vcith usually four simple radiating canals, a velum, manu- 

 brium, and naked eyes. Hydrosome either naked or as in 

 Sertularia, etc., protected by a horny sheath, or forming, as 

 in MiUepora and Heliolites, a massive corallum. Suborder 1. 

 Tubularice (Hydra, Clava, Hydractinia, Millepora,Tubularia). 

 Suborder 2. Gampanularim (Plumularia, Dynamena, Cam- 

 panularia, ^quorea, Zygodactyla). 



Order 2. Discopjhora.—WtAw&Si like those of the Hydroids, but with 

 the four primary radiating canals usually subdividing into 

 numerous branches, the eyes more or less covered by a flap ; 

 the velum often absent ; often four genital pouches, dis- 

 charging eggs into the gastro-vascular cavity ; usually of 

 large size, and developing either directly from eggs, or, as 

 in Aurelia. passing through a gastrula, scyphistoma, and 

 strobila stage, not being developed from a hydra-like poly- 

 pite. Suborder 1. Trachymedusa (^gina, Cunina, Gery- 

 onia, Charybdsea). Suborder 2. Lucernarim (Lucernaria). 

 Suborder 3. Acaleph<B (Pelagia, Cyanea, Aurelia, Rhizos- 

 toma). 



Oi-derZ. Sip?io7u>phora. —Free-swimming, pol3Tnorphic hydrosomes, 

 with nutritive, feeding, reproductive and locomotive zooids. 

 Suborder 1. Phy.iophora? (Agalma). 2. Pliysalim (Physalia). 

 3. Calycopjhorm (Diphyes). 4. Discoidem ^''elella, Porpita). 



