PEGANTHA TRILOBA. 



87 



(Bigelow, : 04), in the China Sea (Haeckel, '79), and very generally through- 

 out the course of the " Albatross " in the Eastern Pacific. It is probably a 

 surface form. 



Pegantha triloba Haeckel. 



Pegantha trUoba Haeckel, '79, p. 333, taf. 19. figs. ^.-7 . 

 Solmaria insculpta Mayer, : 06, p. 1140, pi. 3, figs. 8, 9. 

 ? Pegantha quadriloba Haeckel, '79, p. 333. 



Plate 14, Fig. 3; Plate 16, Fig. 5 ; Plate 20, Figs. 1-3; Plate 45, Figs. 1, 2. 



I have been able to settle the identity of Mayer's species, Solmaris insculpta, 

 by a study of the original specimens from the Hawaiian Islands, kindly 

 entrusted to me by the United States National Museum. The presence of a 

 well-developed and very obvious canal system and of long otoporpae shows 

 beyond doubt that they are typical specimens of Pegantha, not of Solmaris 

 as Mayer supposed. Specifically they are indistinguishable from the speci- 

 mens in the present collection. 



The largest specimen in the present collection is about 22 mm. in diameter 

 by 12 mm. high ; approximately the dimensions given by Haeckel (20- 

 25 mm. in diameter, 7-8 mm. high). The gelatinous substance is extremely 

 rigid, and the exumbrella bears a well-marked and characteristic sculpture 

 (PL 14, fig. 3 ; PI. 16, fig. 3). From the base of each tentacle a deep furrow runs 

 nearly to the apex of the bell; on either side of these furrows there are ridges 

 which extend down to the margin of the lappets ; in the middle lines of the 

 lappets, and also extending to the apex, are a second series of ridges ; and 

 finally there are less prominent ridges confined to the lappets along the lines 

 of the otoporpae. This sculpture, very constant in all the specimens both 

 Eastern Pacific and Hawaiian, agrees with Haeckel's account. It is already 

 developed in a specimen only 2.5 mm. in diameter (PI. 16, fig. 3). The mar- 

 ginal lappets are ovate, pointed, rather longer than broad ; the incisions 

 between them deep. Three of the four specimens, ranging in diameter from 

 5 to 22 mm., have twelve lappets and tentacles ; one, the smallest 2.5 ram. 



