ZOOPHYTES. 



329 



varying in different individuals — arranged in one or two 

 close-set circles, like a crown. These organs, which, as 

 you see, fall into elegant double curves, like the branches 

 of a chandelier, are roughened with knobbed rings, some- 

 thing like the horns of a goat ; this structure we will pre- 

 sently submit to more close examination. 



In the midst of the space surrounded by the tentacular 

 crown there is protruded, at the pleasure of the animal, a 

 large, fleshy, funnel-shaped mouth, the lips of which are 

 highly sensitive, continually changing their form ; pro- 

 truding, contracting, bending in upon themselves, now 

 closing, now opening the mouth, and, as it were, testing 

 the immediate vicinity, like a very delicate organ of some 

 unknown sense. 



The whole polype is much too minute for us to attempt, 

 with any probability of success, the amputation of one of 

 the tentacles with scissors. But by 

 cutting off a polype, cell and all, and 

 putting it into the compressorium, 

 we may be able, by means of the 

 graduated pressure, to flatten the 

 whole, and thus discern the gnarled . 

 structure of the tentacles. A very 

 high magnifying power is needed for 

 this. 



Here, then, we have one of the | 

 tentacles flattened between the glass 

 plates, but still retaining its integrity. 

 We find that the thickenings are 

 similar in character to those of the 

 tentacles of Sarsia, which we lately 

 observed. They are, in fact, accu- 

 mulations of cnida, those peculiar 

 weapons of power, which I shall presently describe in full ; 

 but here they are symmetrically arranged in single rows, 

 each pointing upward and outward. 





> !\ 



-7 ^ 



TENTACLE OP LAOMEDEA J 



flattened. 



