THE ANNALS 



AND 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



No. 106. NOVEMBER 1845, 



XXXI. — Anatomical and Physiological Observations on Sagitta 

 bipunctata. By M. A. Krohn*. 



[With a Plate.] 



The Sagitta bipunctata was first observed by MM. Quoy and 

 Gaimard in the Straits of Gibraltar, at the commencement of 

 their second voyage round the world f. Since that time the fauna 

 of the Mediterranean Sea has been often explored and described 

 by German and French naturalists ; but, to my knowledge, none 

 of these observers has again noticed this remarkable animal. It 

 is extraordinary therefore, that last autumn and winter, during 

 my stay at Messina, such a considerable numher of these animals 

 were to be met with, that I was sure, whenever the sea was calm, 

 to perceive several carried along by the currents which prevail in 

 those latitudes. This favourable circumstance enabled me very 

 thoroughly to examine this animal, whose structure is still little 

 known by zoologists. 



The rapid sketch of the form and external parts of the Saffitta, 

 given by MM. Quoy and Gaimard, was made from a young spe- 

 cimen four to five lines long. It is very conceivable that, from 

 the small size of this specimen, several of its most important 

 parts should have escaped the observers, and that they should 

 nave had but a vague apprehension of some other organs. 



The body of the Sagitta is transparent as crystal, cylindrical, 



* Translated from the Annales des Sciences Naturelles for Feb. 1845. 



t Annales dcs Sciences Naturelles, 1st series, t. x. p. 232. I may also 

 state here, that I am obliged to the kindness of Prof. Eschricht for the in- 

 formation that Mr. Scoresby met with an animal in the Arctic zone which 

 has great analogy with the S. bipunctata, and which he has figured in his 

 work (Account of the Arctic Regions, t. ii. pi. 16. fig. 1 & 2.). The reader 

 will learn with pleasure that the researclies of M. Eschricht on the Sagitta 

 of the North, made in company with MM. Loven and Krciyer, are soon to be 

 published. 



Ann, ^ Mag. N. Hist, Vol.xwl Y 



