1G8 EXPEDITION OF THE "ALBATROSS," 1899-1900. 



give rise to several side branches, and each of these, as well as the distal 

 end of the tentacle itself, terminates in a coiled nematocyst battery, protected 

 by a gelatinous funnel-shaped hood, and ending in a simple terminal filament 

 (Fig. 54). 



The gonostyles (Fig. 52) are much more numerous than the feeding 

 polypites. They are spindle shaped and are attached to the siphosome by 

 means of a short, cylindrical pedicle. It is probable that there is an opening 

 at the distal extremity of each of these organs, and that they are, therefore, 

 equivalent to the Cystons of Haeckel. A single long, slender, unbranched 

 tentacle arises from the upper side of each gonostyle near the distal end 

 of the pedicle. Clustered near the base of this tentacle there are three or 

 four male and from six to ten female gonads. The male gonads are long 

 and finger shaped and contain each a single unbranched axial canal. The 

 female gonads are small and spherical and each one contains a single ovum, 

 which is surrounded by a winding system of slender canals. 



The entoderm of the siphosome and feeding polypites is slightly milky in 

 color, while the gelatinous substance of the swimming-bells and bracts is of 

 a glassy transparency. The pore of the float is surrounded by port-wine- 

 colored polygonal cells, and the invaginated portion of the float is of a 

 delicate amber hue. The entoderm of the nectosome and siphosome is 

 marked with small, scattered port-wine-colored blotches. There are two port- 

 wine-colored spots at the distal ends of each of the two lateral radial canals 

 in every swimming-bell ; and the entoderm of the gonostyles and feeding 

 polypites is marked with the same color. The nematocyst cells in the 

 batteries of the lateral tentacles are of a deep port-wine color, as are also 

 parts of the entoderm of the male gonophores. 



Large numbers of this beautiful siphonophore were found swimming 

 during the morning hours, upon the surface, in the lagoon of Funafuti Atoll, 

 Ellice Islands, on December 24-26, 1899. 



This Pacific species differs in many respects from the Atlantic form of 

 the genus described by Haeckel, 1888 ; " Challenger " Report, Zool., Vol. 

 28, p. 229, Pis. XIV., XV. 



