i9i 
entoderm and ectoderm (PI. Ill, fig. 3). These fibres are united to a very thin layer on the 
entodermal side, immediately in contact with the entoderm. These fibres are to be found especially 
in that part of the tentacle where the tentacular base is attached to the peripheric bodywall. 
The entode rm (max. 80 p.) has a well-developed nervous layer and a layer of circular 
musclefibres. I he entire epithelium is a little more deeply staining than the ectoderm, but it does 
not contain any deeply staining glandcells. d he nuclei are numerous and small, but they do 
not stain very deeply. 
Bodywall (PI. II, fig. 10). I he ectoderm (60 p.) locally contains a larger or smaller 
number of deeply staining glandcells, especially in the upper half of the ectoderm. There are 
large hyaline glandcells besides, over the entire depth of the epithelium. There are no nematocyst- 
batteries. The mesogloea (15 p.) is homogeneous, without fibres. — The entoderm (30 p.) 
contains some hyaline glandcells but only very rare deeply staining glandcells. The nervous 
layer is well developed. — The polyps are separated by an interzooidal septum, the 
mesogloea of which is very irregular (PI. V, fig. 6 ), This septum is fixed to a basal septum, 
which is a complete septum below the peripheric part of the polyp, but incomplete below the 
middle of the polyp. Plere it is curved back towards the polypar periphery; it passes below 
a second polyp, at first incomplete, but furtheron as a complete basal septum. In PI. V, fig. 6 
the curve of the septum below a polyp is figured and the partly continuing of it below the 
second polyp. In fig. 255 the course of the basal septum 
below two polyps is schematically given in a series of cross- 
sections through the axis. This basal septum is not to be 
mixed up with the axis-layers and the connecting septum. 
The polyps are loosened from the axis so that the axis-layers 
are lost for the greater part, but part of them is present in the 
sections, so that a confusion with the basal septum is excluded. 
In PI. V, fig. 6 part of the axis-mesogloea and axis-ectoderm 
is visible; the mesogloea may be fused with the bodywall, 
as is mentioned in other species, but here it may be fused 
with the basal septum also (PL V, fig. 6 at d). The axis- 
ectoderm is thickest at the base of the spines. — On 
both sides of the interzooidal septum the mesogloea makes 
a large number of mesogloeal septa at the entodermal side of 
the bodywall; this secondary interzooidal septa disappear at a 
certain distance from the large septum. The entoderm of the 
bodywall does not follow these secondary mesogloeal septa, 
but its surface is smooth above the mesogloeal irregularities 
(PI. V, fig. 6). 
The layers of the oral cone have the structure of the bodywall. 
Actinopharynx (PI. II, fig. 7; PI. V, figs. 5 and 7). The lumen is a very much sagittally 
elongated slit, with a longest diameter of 500 p. together with a breadth of 30 p. only. — It does not 
descend to a very deep level, for at the base of the oral cone its free border is continued into 
Fig. 255- Rucirripathes contorla v. Pesch. 
Schemata of the interzooidal and the 
basal septum in succeeding sections. 
The basal septum, which at first is found below 
the polypar border (I), extends as a continuous 
base below the polyp (II), is afterwards unilateral 
again (III), curves backwards (IV) and makes at 
first an incomplete base (V, VI, VII), afterwards 
a complete base (VIII) below a neighbouring polyp; 
at the polypar limit the septum is incomplete again 
(IX). The polyps are indicated by thicker parts. 
