næsten ret nedad, Fig. 62, b, for derefter at ende i en 
traadformig Hage, Fig. 62, ¢ Opad i den øverste Del af 
Rachis bliver Axen rund og gaar md 1 Ventralkanalen; 
her gjør den, omtrent 6”” fra Endepolypens Grund, en 
stærk Bøining opad mod Høire, Fig. 63, a, og kommer da 
lige ved Endepolypen, hvor den bøier sig nedad og til 
Venstre, Fig. 63, b, for derefter S-formigt at ende i en 
yderst liden Knop, Fig. 63, ©. har en brun Farve 
og dannes af fibrillært Bmdevæv, imellem hvis Fibre er 
Axen 
afsat en stor Mængde Kalk, saa at den er meget fast men 
ogsaa meget boielig, især gjælder dette sidste dens øverste 
Halvdel; i den bulbøse Del er Axen derimod saa tyk, at 
Ved et Tversnit viser Axen 
efter at være berøvet Kalken, at have en Central- 
kjerne, der er næsten korsformet eller dannet af 2 Buer, 
hvis konvexe Dele lobe sammen, Fig. 61, a. 
Disse dannes af 
koncentriske Ringe eller Lag af Bindevevsfibriller, imellem 
hvilke er en rigelig Kalkafsætning, Fig. 36, d. Lagene 
den her ikke lader sig bøie. 
sig, 
Kjernen er 
noget lysere end de omgivende Dele. 
overskjæres af radiære Bindeveevsfibre, der straale diverge- 
rende ud fra Centrum mod Peripherien, Fig. 36, e, hvor 
de gaa over 1 Axens Membrana propria. Denne er yderst 
tynd. hyalin, bestaar af fibrillært Bindevæv og er med dens 
indre Flade stærkt sammenvoxen til Axen, {saa at den ikke 
kan skilles fra denne, uden at Dele af Axen følge med; 
dens ydre Flade er vel fastvoxen til Skeden, men Forbin- 
delsen er ikke saa intim; den foregaar væsentlig ved Binde- 
at Rum eller Kanaler, hvori 
Ernæringsvædsken flyder, Fig. 36, /. 
vævstraade, saa der bliver 
Skeden bestaar af to Membraner; den indre er tem- 
melig tynd men fast og er ved sin indre Flade fastvoxen 
til Axens Membrana propria (Cuticula), som tidligere om- 
talt, medens dens ydre Flade er glat, har yderst fine 
Aabninger og vender imod Skedens Lumen, Fig. 36, g; 
den ydre Membran er meget tyk, fast og ganske eiendom- 
melig, Fig. 36, 7. Lige fra Rachis og til Begyndelsen af 
den bulbøse Del er den ydre Membran ganske fri paa sin 
indre Flade, der er glat, gjennemboret af fine Aabninger 
og har et trekantet Fremspring paa alle 4 Sider, hvilket 
svarer til Axefurens Vinkel, som det næsten udfylder, Fig. 
61, b. Imellem den indre Membrans ydre Flade og den 
ydre Membrans indre Flade er saaledes et Rum rundt hele 
Axen, Fig. 61, d, der udfyldes af Frnæringsfluidum, som 
igjennem de fine Porer kommunicerer med de 4 Hoved- 
I den bulbøse Del af Stokken er Forholdet 
noget anderledes. 
længdekanaler. 
Her er en fuldstændig Sammenvoxning 
imellem Skedens ydre og indre Membran, hvorved det nys- 
nævnte Rum forsvinder; men 1 det Bindevæv, som udfylder 
Rummet, er der en stor Mængde Saftkanaler, forsynede 
about 20”” from the bottom, it makes a gentle curve to 
the right (fig. 62), and then curves anew, almost direct 
downwards (fig. 62, 0), terminating thereafter in a fili- 
form hook (fig. 62, c). Above, in the superior part of 
the rachis, the axis becomes round, and. passes into the 
ventral canal. In this situation, about 6”” from the base 
of the terminal polyp, it makes a sharp bend upwards 
towards the right (fig. 63, a), and then passes close by 
the terminal polyp, and here, curves downwards to the 
left (fig. 63, 0), and then terminates in the form of 
the letter S, im an extremely small knob (fig. 63, c). The 
axis has a brown colour, and is formed of fibrillous con- 
nective-tissue, between whose fibres there is disposed a 
large quantity of lime, so that, it becomes very compact, 
but yet very flexible, and this last feature is specially the 
case in the superior half portion. In the bulbous portion, 
the axis is, on the contrary, so thick, that in that situation 
it does not admit of being flexed. After being deprived of 
the lime, it’s sectional aspect shows the axis to have a 
central nucleus which is nearly cruciform, being formed of 
2 ares whose convex parts are concreted together (fig. 61, a). 
The nucleus is somewhat brighter than the surrounding 
parts. These are formed of concentric rings, or layers of 
connective-tissue fibres, between which, there is an abun- 
dant calcareous deposit (fig. 36, d). The layers are inter- 
sected by radiating connective-tissue fibres, which radiate 
divergently, from the centre towards the periphery (fig. 
36, e), and they, there, pass over into the membrana propria 
of the axis. This is extremely thin and hyaloid, and con- 
sists of fibrillous connective-tissue, and, upon it's inner 
surface, it is strongly conereted with the axis, so that, 
separated without portions of the axis 
the 
sheath, but this connection is not so intimate, and is, essentially, 
they cannot be 
adhering. It’s exterior surface is also conereted with 
produced by connective-tissue filaments, in such manner, 
that there remain spaces, or canals, in which the nutritive 
secretions flow (fig. 36. f). 
The sheath consists of two membranes, of which, 
the inner one is rather thin, but compact, and by it’s 
inner surface. it is conereted to the membrana propria of 
the axis (cuticula), as previously stated; whilst, the exterior 
surface is smooth, with extremely minute apertures, and it 
faces towards the internal cavity of the sheath (fig. 36, 9). 
membrane is very thick, compact, and quite 
peculiar (fig. 36, 7). Entirely, from the rachis, to the 
commencement of the bulbous part, the exterior membrane 
The exterior 
is quite free on it’s inner surface; this is smooth, and 
penetrated by minute openings, and has, also, a triangular 
prominence all the 4 sides, which corresponds to 
the angle of the axis furrow, and nearly fills it out (fig. 
61, 0). the surface of the inner mem- 
brane, and the outer membrane’s inner surface, there is, 
thus, a space round the entire axis (fig. 61, d), which is 
occupied by the nutrient fluid that circulates through the 
minute pores into the 4 principal longitudinal canals. In the 
bulbous part of the stalk, the case is somewhat different. 
Here, there is a complete fusion between the outer and 
on 
Between outer 
