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glaucus-第37章

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organization of the internal parts。  The mouth; surrounded by 

tentacles; leads by gullet and gizzard through a channel into a 

digesting stomach; from which the rejectable matter passes upwards 

through an intestinal canal till it is discharged near the mouth。  

The tentacles also differ much from those of true Polypes。  Instead 

of being fleshy and contractile; they are rather stiff; resembling 

spun glass; set on the sides with vibrating cilia; which by their 

motion up one side and down the other of each tentacle; produce a 

current which impels their living food into the mouth。  When these 

tentacles are withdrawn; they are gathered up in a bundle; like the 

stays of an umbrella。  Our Plate I。 contains the following examples 

of Polyzoa。





VALKERIA CUSCUTA。 PL。 I。 FIG。 3。





From a group in one of Mr。 Lloyd's vases。  Fig。 3 A is the natural 

size of the central group of cells; in a specimen coiled round a 

thread…like weed。  Underneath this is the same portion enlarged。  

When magnified to this apparent size; the cells could be seen in 

different states; some closed; and others with their bodies 

protruded。  When magnified to 3 D; we could pleasantly watch the 

gradual eversion of the membrane; then the points of the tentacles 

slowly appearing; and then; when fully protruded; suddenly 

expanding into a bell…shaped circle。  This was their usual 

appearance; but sometimes they could be noticed bending inwards; as 

in fig。 3 C; as if to imprison some living atom of importance。  

Fig。 B represents two tentacles; showing the direction in which the 

cilia vibrate。





CRISIA DENTICULATA。  PL。 I。 FIG。 4。





I have only drawn the cells from a prepared specimen。  The polypes 

are like those described above。





GEMELLARIA LORICATA。  PL。 I。 FIG。 5。





Here the cells are placed in pairs; back to back。  5 A is a very 

small portion on the natural scale。





CELLULARIA CILIATA。  Pl。 I。 FIG。 7





The cells are alternate on the stem; and are curiously armed with 

long whip…like cilia or spines。  On the back of some of the cells 

is a very strange appendage; the use of which is not with certainty 

ascertained。  It is a minute body; slightly resembling a vulture's 

head; with a movable lower beak。  The whole head keeps up a nodding 

motion; and the movable beak occasionally opens widely; and then 

suddenly snaps to with a jerk。  It has been seen to hold an 

animalcule between its jaws till the latter has died; but it has no 

power to communicate the prey to the polype in its cell or to 

swallow and digest it on its own account。  It is certainly not an 

independent parasite; as has been supposed; and yet its purpose in 

the animal economy is a mystery。  Mr。 Gosse conjectures that its 

use may be; by holding animalcules till they die and decay; to 

attract by their putrescence crowds of other animalcules; which may 

thus be drawn within the influence of the polype's ciliated 

tentacles。  Fig。 7 B shows the form of one of these 〃birds' heads;〃 

and fig。 7 C; its position on the cell。





FLUSTRA LINEATA。  PL。 I。 FIG。 1。





In Flustrae; the cells are placed side by side on an expanded 

membrane。  Fig。 1 represents the general appearance of a species 

which at least resembles F。 lineata as figured in Johnston's work。  

It is spread upon a Fucus。  Fig。 A is an enlarged view of the 

cells。





FLUSTRA FOLIACEA。  PL。 I。 FIG。 2。





We figure a frond or two of the common species; which has cells on 

both sides。  It is rarely that the polypes can be seen in a state 

of expansion。





SERIALARIA LENDIGERA。  PL。 I。 fig。 10。



NOTAMIA BURSARIA。  PL。  I。 fig。 11。





The 〃tobacco…pipe〃〃 appendages; fig。 11 B; are of unknown use:  

they are probably analogous to the birds' heads in the Cellularae。







PLATE V。







CORALS AND SEA ANEMONES。





CARYOPHYLLAEA SMITHII。  PL。 V。 FIG。 2。  PL。 VI。 FIG。 3。





THE connection between Brainstones; Mushroom Corals; and other 

Madrepores abounding on Polynesian reefs; and the 〃Sea Anemones;〃 

which have lately become so familiar to us all; can be seen by 

comparing our comparatively insignificant C。 Smithii with our 

commonest species of Actinia and Sagartia。  The former is a 

beautiful object when the fleshy part and tentacles are wholly or 

partially expanded。  Like Actinia; it has a membranous covering; a 

simple sac…like stomach; a central mouth; a disk surrounded by 

contractile and adhesive tentacles。  Unlike Actinia; it is fixed to 

submarine bodies; to which it is glued in very early life; and 

cannot change its place。  Unlike Actinia; its body is supported by 

a stony skeleton of calcareous plates arranged edgewise so as to 

radiate from the centre。  But as we find some Molluscs furnished 

with a shell; and others even of the same character and habits 

without one; so we find that in spite of this seemingly important 

difference; the animals are very similar in their nature。  Since 

the introduction of glass tanks we have opportunities of seeing 

anemones crawling up the sides; so as to exhibit their entire basal 

disk; and then we may observe lightly coloured lines of a less 

transparent substance than the interstices; radiating from the 

margin to the centre; some short; others reaching the entire 

distance; and arranged in exactly the same manner as the plates of 

Caryophyllaea。  These are doubtless flexible walls of compartments 

dividing the fleshy parts of the softer animals; and corresponding 

with the septa of the coral。  Fig。 2 A represents a section of the 

latter; to be compared with the basal disk of Sagartia。





SAGARTIA ANGUICOMA。  PL。 V。 FIG。 3; A; B。





This genus has been separated from Actinia on account of its habit 

of throwing out threads when irritated。  Although my specimens 

often assumed the form represented in fig。 3; Mr。 Lloyd informs me 

that it must have arisen from unhealthiness of condition; its usual 

habit being to contract into a more flattened form。  When fully 

expanded; its transparent and lengthened tentacles present a 

beautiful appearance。  Fig。 3 A; showing a basal disk; is given for 

the purpose already described。





BALANOPHYLLAEA REGIA。  PL。 V。 FIG。 1。





Another species of British madrepore; found by Mr。 Gosse at 

Ilfracombe; and by Mr。 Kingsley at Lundy Island。  It is smaller 

than O。 Smithii; of a very bright colour; and always covers the 

upper part of its bony skeleton; in which the plates are 

differently arranged from those of the smaller species。  Fig。 1 

shows the tentacles expanded in an unusual degree; 1 A; animal 

contracted; 1 B; the coral; 1 C; a tentacle enlarged。







PLATE VI。







CORALS AND SEA ANEMONES。



ACTINIA MESEMBRYANTHEMUM。  PL。 VI。 FIG。 1 A。





This common species is more frequently met with than many others; 

because it prefers shallow water; and often lives high up among 
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