SYSTEMATIC AND BIOLOGICAL ACCOUNT 



4i 



Melophysa melo (Q. & G.), 1827. 



The nectophores are shown in Text-fig. 7; and the bracts are like that figured by Bigelow (1931, 

 fig. 217). 



New Indian Ocean records. 'Discovery II' Stations 1375, 1580, 1581, 1586, 1755, 1758, 1763. 



Other new records. 'Discovery' Stations 282, 284, 288; 'Discovery II' 692, 695, 701, 702, 2068, 

 2635, 2638. 



Beebe Collection, Bermuda. Nos. 29,266; 29,270; 29,349; 2 9>4 00 ; 301,072; 301,427; 311,008; 

 312,067; 312,071. Corrigendum. Items 27, 28 in my (1936) list of Wm Beebe's siphonophore material 

 taken at Bermuda in his 193 1 Oceanographic Expedition refer to M. melo and not Athorybia rosacea. 

 The name was used sensu Bigelow. 



Text-fig. 7. Nectophores of Melophysa melo. x 7. A, C, viewed from upper side; B, D, from abaxial end; E, from 

 left side. A, from Bermuda, Beebe Collection, 1463m. B, 'Discovery II' St. 692, 350-0 m. C, D, E, 'Discovery II' 

 St. 1580, 450-0 m. 



A post-larval specimen (Text-figs. 8, 9) taken by H. B. Moore at Bermuda in 1938-9 bears two 

 gastrozooids. It is particularly interesting because (1) it still bears an attached larval bract with smooth 

 outer surface, (2) the larval bract is attached near the tip of a long, conical nectostyle whose axis is 

 at right angles to that of the pneumatophore, and not overlapping it as in A. rosacea. Only about half 

 a dozen bracts were attached to the upper parts of the nectostyle, and buds for younger ones are 

 attached much lower down on the ' body ' of the specimen. There appears to be a young nectophore 

 bud at the base of the pneumatophore, but it is doubtful whether buds of different types can certainly 

 be distinguished. The nectosome has not started to elongate. There is a ring of nine palpons. The 

 length, from apex of nectostyle to mouth of protosiphon is 5 mm. ; the length of the attached bract 

 is 7 mm. The tentilla are like those figured by Bigelow (193 1). 



