CCELENTERATA : ACTINOZOA. 1 33 



few in number, at an early period taking on the performance 

 of their special function." — (Greene.) 



As regards the homologies between Actinia and Fleurodrachia, 

 the following may be quoted from Professor Greene : — 



" If now a comparison be made between this nutrient 

 system" (the 'canal -system of the Ctenopkora) "and that of 

 Actinia, the digestive sacs of the two organisms are clearly 

 seen to correspond in form, in relative size, and mode of 

 communication with the somatic cavity. The funnel and 

 apical canals of Fleurobrachia, though more distinctly marked 

 out, are the homologues of those parts of the general cavity, 

 which in Actinia are central in position, and underlie the free 

 end of the digestive sac. So also the paragastric and radial 

 canals may be likened to those lateral portions of the somatic 

 cavity of Actinia yiKich. are not included between the mesen- 

 teries. Lastly, the ctenophoral canals of Fleurobrachia and the 

 somatic chambers of Actinia appear to be truly homologous, the 

 chief difference between the two forms being, that while in the 

 latter the body-chambers are wide and separated by very thin 

 partitions, they are in Fleurobrachia reduced to the condition 

 of tubes ; the mesenteries which intervene becoming very 

 thick and gelatinous, so as to constitute, indeed, the principal 

 bulk of the body." The "apical" canals, again, by which the 

 digestive sac communicates inferiorly with the external medium, 

 may be compared with the perforation which is found in some 

 of the ActinidcB ( Cerianthus and Feachia) traversing the axis of 

 the base or foot. 



The remaining members of the Ctenophora conform in most 

 essential respects with Fleurobrachia., the riiost important dif- 

 ferences being found in the canal-system. For purposes of 

 comparison this system may be divided- into four portions as 

 follows : — I. The " axial system," consisting of the mouth, 

 stomach, funnel, and apical canals. 2. The " paraxial system," 

 comprising the paragastric canals. 3. The " radial system," 

 comprising the primary, secondary, and tertiary radial canals. 

 4. The " ctenophoral system," consisting of the tubes which run 

 underneath the locomotive bands. 



In Beroe, which is in other respects very similar to Fleuro- 

 brachia, the axial system of canals is the same as we have seen 

 in the latter. The paraxial system, however, consists of two 

 pairs of paragastric canals, which, instead of terminating 

 caecally, open into a circular canal which surrounds the mouth. 

 The ctenophoral canals, likewise, open into the oral vessel, 

 instead of terminating csecally as in Fleurobrachia. Lastly, 

 the radial system is not developed, the ctenophoral canals 



