GENERAL SKETCH 



51 



Still another mode of food-taking is found among the Suctoria. 

 Here there is no mouth and no motile organ to create currents, but 

 the body is provided with distinct tentacle-like processes, through the 



Fig. 19. — Acti?iobolus radians St. 

 The organism is represented at rest, with the mouth turned downward, and with the tentacles 

 widely outstretched. At the base of each tentacle is a brush of 8 to 12 cilia which vibrate like 

 flHgella instead of striking like cilia. Within the body are represented the nucleus, contractile 

 vacuole, and one Halteria. 



ends of which the food substances are absorbed into the body. 

 These tentacles are of various kinds, some sharp-pointed for piercing, 

 others cup-shaped for attachment by suction, while others are pointed 

 and spirally wound (Fig. 20). The cuticle of the prey is pierced by the 



