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Show 502 REV. S. J. WHITMEE ON PALOLA VIRIDIS. [Julie 15, We usually know the day, but often are in error as to the moon, and expect it one too early." In their old mode of reckoning the Samoans knew when the season was approaching by the flowering of certain plants. They found the day by the position of the moon. The tenth morning on which the moon is seen above the western horizon at dawn of day is the morning on which the Palolo appear. The Samoans always call the Palolo a fish (i'a = ika in other Polynesian dialects, and ikau in Malayan). This is the origin of a mistake made by one of the former missionaries, mentioned in the ** Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Upolu, Samoa, March 20th, 1874. P.S. March 17th, 1875. The preceding paper was forwarded to the Zoological Society of London by the mail vid San Francisco in March, 1874 ; but having heard from Mr. Sclater that it had not reached him on October 30th last, I now forward another copy, to which I have added a few notes under the present date. In a note dated Nov. 17th, 1874, I have already informed Mr. Sclater that the Palolo appeared in these islands on October 31 st and November 1st, G. M . T., = November 1st and 2ud local time, thus proving the correctness of m y opinion that that season would be one of 13 lunations. I sent a copy of the foregoing paper to Mr. E. L. Layard, F.Z S., now Administrator of the Government in the colony of Fiji, in order that he might check m y observations in those islands. I am sure he will excuse m e for giving the following interesting quotation from his letter, dated Levuka, Dec. 9th, 1874, communicating his own observations :- " I studied your paper with much interest, and anxiously awaited the time of the worm's appearance. The date assigned by you was very rough and stormy. The natives here laughed at the date-' Oh, it will be later !' Time came ; no balolo! I was out, one among thirty boats. * Ob, we have missed it by three days ; it will be later.' Meanwhile news came from Loma-loma that they had them on the very day you name, the biggest take of balolo ever known. I now have m y laugh at the people." Mr. Layard obtained half a dozen specimens, and he says, " All took place as you observed. With my high-power glasses I found the eggs to be spotted; and I fancy the spots were the orifices by which the seminal vesicles of the male enter. These are very active in the water, gyrating in a singular manner. One male 1 inch long was enough to dim the transparency of 8 oz. of water. I saw no worm longer than lg inch, but received one 18 inches long from Loma-loma." |