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Show 496 MB. E. T. BROWNE O N [Mar. 17 divisions, as most of the specimens taken could thus be separated in the process of sorting; but the whole collection formed one continuous series. The Adult Stage.-Forbes first described the adult form from a few specimens which he obtained at Dartmouth (Aug. 31, 1845), at Portland, and about 15 miles off the Devonshire coast. I have not seen any other records of the capture of this medusa. I do not think it is a native of our seas, but rather an occasional visitor. It was very abundant in 1893, but I did not see a single specimen during m y visit to Plymouth in September 1895. Its home may be in the Mediterranean or in the warmer parts of the Atlantic. The description given by Gegenbaur of Liriantha mucronata from the Mediterranean corresponds very closely to the British species. I do not intend here to give a complete description of the adult, as it may be easily identified from the description and figures given by Forbes. It possesses the usual eight sense-organs (" Horblaschen"). The heart-shaped generative organs are nearer the margin than Forbes's figures show them to be. Haeckel places great importance upon the glossoconus (" Zungenkegel"), which is the conical termination of the peduncle inside the stomach. H e divides the genus Liriantha into two subgenera, one with and the other without the glossoconus. Forbes's Liriantha is placed in the subgenus without the glossoconus, as Forbes never described it; but I have seen it in the Plymouth specimens. Unless specially looked for, it m ay be easily passed over. Mr. E. J. Allen, in a letter from Plymouth dated 9th January, 1896, informs m e that specimens of Liriantha appendiculata were taken at Plymouth on 7th and 8th of January. It is very interesting to note the occurrence of this medusa in the middle of winter. NABCOMEDUS^E. Fam. SOLMAEIDH. SOLMARIS, sp. ? T w o early stages of a medusa belonging to this genus were taken about three miles south of Plymouth on 7th September, 1895. The umbrella of the largest specimen about 2 mm. in diameter, with 15 lappets. There is a brownish sense-organ (" Horkolbchen ") in the centre of each alternate lappet. Fifteen tentacles, one between every two lappets. N o genital ring present. Umbrella and tentacles colourless. The other specimen, about 1 m m . in diameter, with 14 tentacles, 14 umbrella-lappets, seven sense-organs, one on each alternate lappet. The figure (pi. xx. fig. 7) given by Haeckel of Solmaris coronantha is very much hke the appearance of the young medusae taken at Plymouth. The medusae belonging to the genus Solmaris are not natives of our cold seas. Most of the species inhabit the tropical seas; three, however, have been found in the Mediterranean, and one (S. coronantha) off the Canary Islands. |
