240 HARGITT. [VOL. II. 



there seems to me to be little doubt that they are funda- 

 mentally of similar origin and function. While in many cases 

 there are extremely small serrations of the canal walls, in 

 other cases (PI. I, Figs. I and 2 ; PI. Ill, Figs. 4 and 5) they are 

 more prominent, even occasionally forming anastomosing con- 

 nections between adjacent canals. Similarly the loops already 

 referred to are probably in most cases anastomosed spurs. 



An examination of the several figures of Pis. I-III will 

 bring to the attention some interesting and rather anoma- 

 lous illustrations of another phase of the structures under con- 

 sideration. As will be seen, there is here almost every degree 

 of intergradation between the perfectly symmetrical cruciform 

 aboral junction of the chymiferous canals and the perfectly 

 circular canal about the base of the gastric pouch into which 

 the radial s connect before their connection with the gastric 

 cavity. By careful injections through the radial canals I have 

 clearly demonstrated a direct continuity of the chymiferous 

 system throughout these several channels. Little doubt can 

 therefore remain concerning the fundamentally similar charac- 

 ter of these various structures. Nor is it more doubtful that 

 in function they are fundamentally similar ; and while con- 

 cerning the question of their significance in relation to the 

 affinities of the Hydro- and Scyphomedusae there may be room 

 for wide difference of view, that they serve similar functions 

 in both is highly probable, if not quite certain. 



In passing to the consideration of a specimen of unusual 

 form, it should be noted that in the origin of spurs, extra 

 canals, etc., they were with very slight exceptions, which seem 

 to me easily explained, centrifugal, i.e., from the central toward 

 the peripheral portions of the body. The apparent exceptions 

 are shown in PI. II, Figs. 4 and 7, where portions of canals 

 extend from the margin toward the center. As will be noted, 

 however, there are in both cases spurs from the central region 

 in the line of the peripheral branches which would strongly 



radial canals, many of them show bifurcations toward the margin, and in not a 

 few cases are there found centripetally developing canals similar to those of Car- 

 marina. This medusa likewise shows many other phases of variation, spurs, anas- 

 tonmsi **. etc., of canals, but no details will he undertaken in this connection. 



