| OCR Text |
Show 816 MR. E. T. BROWNE ON BRITISH MEDUSA. [Nov. 16, The following papers were read :- 1. On British Medusae. By EDWARD T. BROWNE, B.A., F.Z.S., Zoological Laboratory, University College, London. [Eeceived June 10, 1897.] (Plates XLVIII. & XLIX.) The present communication is in continuation of a previous paper read before the Society in March 1896, and published in the ' Proceedings ' for that year (P. Z. S. 1896, p. 459). DIPURENA HALTERATA (Forbes). (Plate XLIX. figs. 2, 2 a, 2 b.) Slabberia halterata, Forbes (1848) : Allman (1867). Dipurena halterata, Haeckel (1879) ; Browne (1896). I had the good fortune to capture a fine adult specimen of this species in Valencia Harbour on the 27th of July, 1896. I had occasionally taken young specimens, but never had seen the adult. Before describing the specimen it is best to review the literature relating to the species in order to make clear a most interesting point. Forbes first found this species in August, 1836, in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, where great numbers were taken, and he described the species in his celebrated Monograph as follows:-" Umbrella deeply campanulate, smooth, colourless; sub-umbrella large, divided into equal parts by four simple vessels, which open into a circular marginal vessel. On the upper third of the sub-umbrella are seen in the course of the vessels four linear ovaries or reproductive glands, pointed at each end. The tentacula are strong, four in number, and colourless, except at their bases and tips. The bulbs at their bases are more or less triangular, coloured above with bright verdigris-green, and across the centre with a band of deep orange, below which, on the root as it were of the tentacle, is seen a conspicuous and rather large jet-black ocellus. The extremity of each tentacle is likewise swollen into a bulb, which is of a rich orange hue. From the centre of the sub-umbrella bangs a long and highly extensile peduncle or stomach, capable of being contracted entirely within the general cavity, but more usually elongated beyond the length of the tentacula. It is of a denser tissue than the other parts, and terminates in a circular orifice. Tbe diameter of the disk does not exceed one-eighth of an inch. The position and form of its ovaries indicate a relationship with Thaumantias, whilst the peduncle is that of aSarsia. It thus links together genera which, were it not for such a connecting form, would seem to be far apart." In 1878 Haeckel captured a specimen at Jersey, which he has described in his ' System der Medusen.' He states that the generative cells are upon the manubrium in three spindle-shaped masses, and he expresses an opinion that the " ovaries " described |
