56 
Laomedea jlexuosa. Hincks. 
In this zoophyte the gonophores are of an oval form, generally 
truncated at the summit. They consist of a blastostyle, with sporo- 
sacs and investing capsule. 
The blastostyle is in the form of a cylindrical column expanded 
into a sort of head at its distal end, and having a distinct ectoderm 
and endoderm inclosing a central cavity, which freely communicates 
with that of the ccenosarc of the polype. 
From the sides of the column numerous sporosacs bud forth, car- 
rying with them an ectothecal investment from the ectoderm of the 
blastostyle, and, being more mature the nearer they approach to the 
distal extremity of the blastostyle. They possess a large simple 
manubrium, and are destitute of gastrovascular canals. 
The whole is surrounded by the oval capsule. The formation of 
this capsule may be observed by watching the growth of the gono- 
phore. In the young state of the gonophore one or more lacunse 
may be seen in the ectoderm of the blastostyle. These become con- 
fluent and soon extend round the whole blastostyle, thus separating 
the ectoderm into two distinct layers by a true process of choriza- 
tion. The inner layer still remains adherent to the endoderm ; but 
the outer layer recedes farther and farther from the central co- 
lumn, to which it remains directly attached only at the proximal 
and distal ends, thus forming the walls of an external capsule whose 
axis is occupied by the blastostyle, and whose cavity is nothing more 
than a large lacuna. Into this lacuna the sporocysts bud forth 
from the sides of the blastostyle. While the gonophore is yet young 
numerous irregular fleshy bands may be seen stretching across the 
cavity from the blastostyle to the external wall. These bands are 
the remains of the original union between the two layers into which 
the ectoderm of the blastostyle has split. They are generally torn, 
and disappear as the capsule, increasing in size, becomes more and 
more widely separated from the blastostyle ; but they are also oc- 
casionally more or less visible in the full-grown gonophore. In the 
meantime, the ectodermal layer, thus separated from the blastostyle, 
becomes invested by a distinct chitinous polypary ; and after the 
capsule has acquired its full size, this ectodermal layer generally dis- 
appears along with the connecting bands just described, and the 
