III.-TENTACLES OF A SIPHON OPHORE. 



AMOX<I the specimens to which Mr. Hodgson, on his return from the Antarctic, 

 directed our attention, wa> an attenuated object wliich was the subject of a good 

 deal of speculation. Almost simultaneously with the discovery of its hydrozoic 

 nature, I received a copy <if an interesting article by Dr. John Rennie, of Aberdeen," 

 which settled the question. I print Mr. Hodgson's account of his experiences, as it 

 displays most graphically the difficulties of collecting in glacial temperatures. 

 Dr. Rennie has been so kind as to examine the specimens, and has favoured me with 

 the following note and sketches. F. J. B. 



o 



THE "BOOTLACE." 



On July 1st, 1902, Lieut. M. Barne, R.N., returning from an excursion sounding 

 through holes in the ice of McMurdo Bay, brought me a specimen of what he 

 termed a " Nemertine," from its superficial resemblance to some more bulky and 

 undoubted nemertines that were constantly being captured. This particular specimen 

 was taken on the sounding-wire some 80 fathoms from the bottom, the total 

 depth of water being lf>3 fathoms. It was only liberated with considerable difficulty, 

 and arrived on board in an imperfect condition, and, of course, frozen hard. It was 

 about as stout as an ordinary bootlace, somewhat ragged, and of a light brown colour. 

 I judged it to be very nearly twenty feet in length. It so happened that there was 

 no preservative material available at the time, and as sea-water could not be 

 obtained under half an hour, the heat of the ward-room caused the specimen to 

 disintegrate rapidly, and it was lost. 



On August 1st, 1902, a stationary trap was hauled at No. 5 hole in 178 fathoms, 

 at a distance of a mile and a half from the ship. On the swabs attached thereto 

 were two specimens of this organism. They lay as tangled masses among the fibres 

 of the swabs, and appeared to be about the same size, or larger, than the original 

 specimen, but stouter and evenly cylindrical throughout. Owing to the hole being 

 choked with ice crystals, no water could be obtained ; all specimens had to be brought 

 to the ship "dry." The temperature at this time was 50 Fahr., and under these 

 conditions the specimens were lust. 



( in I tecember 1st, 1902, at No. 4 hole, the total depth of water being 41 fathoms, 

 a tow-net had been let down to a depth of 8 fathoms. On the line immediately above 

 the tow-net one of these organisms was entangled. As the weather was warm, little 



* Scotia Collections. On the Tentacles of an Antarctic Siphonophorc. By John Rennie. D.Sc., University 

 of Aberdeen. 



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