248 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



culoides, but in some way it was lost before any decisive identification was made, and hence the matter 

 must remain somewhat doubtful. During the present summer (1909) I took a single specimen at South 

 Harpswell, Me., of exactly the same general characters, and conforming so far as distinguishable with 

 the descriptions of Stimpson and Verrill. When first dug out of the sand tlie specimen was about 50 to 

 60 mm. in length, of whitish or pale flesh color. After it was placed in the collecting pail along with a 

 few other objects it became greatly contracted and remained in that condition for more than a week in 

 the laboratory, though every means available to induce it to expand was tried. Finally, before leaving 

 it was killed and preserved, and later carefully sectioned in the hope of finding conclusive evidence as 

 to its specific relations. Unfortunately the state of contraction had been so great that the killing proved 

 to have been unsatisfactorily done, and while the main generic features were easily distinguishable it 

 was not practicable to certainly determine the number of tentacles and other specific characters. So 

 far as known only one other species could be possibly confused with it, namely, E. farinacea, and it 

 seemed not to have been this. I am strongly convinced that the specimen was E. sipuncuhides , and 

 that, moreover, the one taken at Woods Hole previously was also this species. Hence it seems altogether 

 proper to include the species as coming within the region. 



I much regret that I am not able to present good anatomical descriptions of the species. However, 

 the earlier description of Verrill (vide supra) renders this lack less serious. 



Edwardsia lineata Verrill. 



Edwardsialmeaia Verrill. Inv. An. Vineyard Sound, p. 739. 1874; Andres. Fauna u. Flora v. Oolf.Neapel.bd.ix; Parker, 

 Am. Nat., vol. x.xxrv, 1900. p. 750. 



"Body cylindrical, elongate, covered with dirty brownish, slightly wTinkled epidermis, except 

 just below tentacles, where it is smooth, translucent, and usually with eight longitudinal, flake-white 

 lines showing through. Tentacles 24 to 30, or more in large specimens; slender, tapering, obtuse, white 

 or pale flesh color, each with a flake-white longitudinal line along inner side. Disk with white circle 

 around the mouth, and often with eight or more radiating white lines extending to the base of inner 

 tentacles; border of mouth somewhat pale red; naked part of column pale flesh color, often with circle 

 of white below bases of tentacles. Length 25 to 30 mm., diameter 2.5 to 3 mm. Species remarkable in 

 lacking any naked basal portion, or any true disk for attachment. This may be due to the peculiar 

 habit of nestling in crevices between rocks, worm tubes, etc. Off Gay Head, 6 to 12 fathoms, among 

 ascidians and annelid tubes, etc. Abundant." 



I have not seen this species, and the above description has been compiled from that of Verrill. 

 Having been on constant lookout for the species for several years, it seems rather strange not to have 

 obtained a single record of its occurrence. 



Edwardsia leidyi Verrill. 



Edwardsia leidyi Verrill, Am Jour. Sci., ser. 4. vol. Vl, p. 493; Parker, Am. Nat., vol. xxxiv, 1900, p. 750. 



This remarkable Edwardsian was first noted by A. Agassiz as a parasite in Mnemiopsis leidyi and 

 taken to be a leechlike worm. (Cf. Catalogue of North American Acalephse, p. 23.) It was later 

 observed by Verrill. (Invertebrate animalsof Vineyard Sound, p. 457.) Its true character seems first 

 to have been recognized by Mark. (Memoirsof Museum Comparative Zoology, vol. ix, p. 43.) Mark also 

 pointed out the fact that this stage was a larval one, and that during tJiis period it was a true parasite 

 within the ctenophore. Following the development so far as conditions made it possible, he suggested 

 that the larva might not improbably be a stage in the life history of Edwardsia lineata. To the present 

 writer it seems rather more probably related to E. elegans. As evidence of this may be noted the number 

 of tentacles in Mark's oldest specimen, namely, 16, while in E. lineata the number is from 24 to 30, or 

 more. Again the aspect of the tentacles is very much like that of E. elegans. 



It is much to be regretted that as yet we are without a final account of the life history, no later observer 

 having been able to carry the record beyond that at which it was left by Mark. The present WTiter has 

 sought to discover some clue to the later stages, but without success. The occurrence of the larvae is 

 most erratic. Diu-ing some seasons it abounds to such extent that hardly a specimen of Mnemiopsis can 



