428 



DEPARTMENT OF THE NATAL SERVIVE 



(d) Sagitta maxima. (Conant.) Fig. 2, 

 1911. Eitter-Zahony, p. 15. 



The rang'e in size is from 7 to 55mm. in length. 



Yig. 2.-Sagitta 

 maxima x 2. 



With one exception all the individuals were quite immature. Those obtained on 

 the first cruise had no evident gonads. The larger ones of the second cruise had the 

 ovaries of moderate size, but not mature, and the seminal vesicles distinct. Michael 

 (1911, 13. 37) has considered this form identical with S. lyra, but by following Ritter- 

 Zahony's account I have experienced no difficulty in separating the two species, except 

 with damaged specimens. The points relied upon have been : relation of anterior ends 

 of anterior fins to ventral ganglion and proportionate length of the tail. This species 

 reaches and matures at a much larger size than Sagitta lyra. 



It is interesting to note that the specimens of this species described by Conant 

 (1896, p. 84) were obtained by the Albatross at station 2428, 42° 48' N. and 50° 55' 

 30" W., just inside the southern tip of the Grand Banks, and therefore in the " cold 

 wall " of boreal water. They were brought up in the trawl wings. 



