Boone, Coelenterata, Cruises of "Eagle" and "Ara," 1921-28 39 



References: Medusa velella Linne:, Syst. Nat. ed. X, p. 660, 1758. 

 Velella velella H. B. Bigelow, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 38, p. 353, 

 1909-1911, (with very complete synonymy). 



SCYPHOMEDUSAE. 



Order: CHARYBDEIDA. 



Family: CHARYBDEIDAE Gegenbaur. 



Genus : TAMOYA F. Muller. 

 Tamoya haplonema F. Muller. 



Plate 6. 



Type: Muller 's type came from Desterro, Santa Catharina, coast 

 of Brazil. The depository is not cited. 



Distribution : This species is essentially of the West Indian region, 

 having been recorded from the northern coasts of Brazil, at many 

 places in the "West Indies ; the coasts of Florida ; at Beaufort, N. C, and 

 in the autumn from Long Island Sound, New York, at Branford 

 Harbor and Great Peconic Bay. Mayer notes that none of the Long 

 Island Sound specimens were obtained at the surface, all being taken 

 in dredges in depths of a fathom or more. In southern waters the 

 species is very frequently found at the surface. 



Material examined : One young specimen, Bahamas, field tag 128. 

 One young specimen, Matanzas, Cuba, February 28, 1928. One young 

 specimen, Bimini, B. W. I., January 19, 1923, field tag 13. Nine young 

 specimens, Hawk's Nest, Cat Island, Bahamas, with marine light and 

 dipnet, January 15, 1928. 



Color: The gelatinous substance of the bell is tough but trans- 

 parent milky white ; the wart-like nematocysts on the pedalia and vela- 

 rium are also milky white. The long tentacles are milky amber, fre- 

 quently with a delicate violaceous hue. The genital organs are milky 

 amber ; the ocelli dark wood brown. 



Life history : Apparently not studied. 



Technical description : Umbrella 85 to 110 mm. high, 50 to 60 mm. 

 wide, shaped not unlike a four-sided tumbler, with the sides vertical, 

 the top or aboral surface nearly flat ; the aboral surface is thickly set 

 with wart-like clusters of milky white nematocysts. There are four 

 pedal lobes, each about 25 to 30 mm. long, flat, spatula shape, with 

 thin edges. The four tentacles are each 85 to 95 mm. long, hollow, 

 very flexible, and having regularly spaced rings of powerful nemato- 



