254 



DIPHYES CONTORTA. 



The species was first encountered off Manzanilla; and thence occurred 

 along the coast of Central America as far as Guatemala. It was not taken in 

 the Panamic region. From the Galapagos, however, it was taken regularly 

 on all our lines, both within and without the Humboldt Current. Chun's 

 specimen was taken between Hawaii and the Carolines, and the "Siboga" col- 

 lection was from the Malaysian region. Its close allies D. steenstrupi and D. 

 serrata are known from various parts of the Tropical Atlantic. 



Diphyes contorta Lens and Van Riemsdijk. 

 Plate 7, fig. 7, 8; Plate 8, fig. 3; Plate 11, fig. 2. 

 Diphyes contorta Lens and Van Riemsdijk, :08, p. 39, pi. 6, fig. 48-50. 



Station 4580 300 fathoms — surface 1 specimen. 



" 4583 



" 4587 " 



" 4594 " 



" 4598 " 



" 4605 " 



" 4634 " 



" 4644 



" 4646 " 



" 4688 " 



" 4692 



" 4694 



" ■ 4696 

 Acapulco Harbor 



3 

 5 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 7 

 3 

 2 

 1 

 1 

 7 

 4 



Only anterior nectophores were taken; but as was the case in the "Siboga" 

 collection, several show the bud for the inferior nectophore. The largest speci- 

 men is 7 mm. long. 



This species was described in such detail by Lens and Van Riemsdijk that 

 I will only emphasize such characters as are useful for specific identification. 

 From this standpoint the most characteristic feature is the peculiar structure 

 of the somatocyst, which arises from the hydroecium in the mid-ventral line, 

 but turns sharply to the right, so that its upper end lies beside, and at the right 

 of, the nectosac. Its form, with narrow stalk and distal dilation, so well figured 

 by Lens and Van Riemsdijk, is likewise unusual. 



The ventral facet is twisted and asymmetrical, to correspond with the tor- 

 tion of the somatocyst. The left lateral facet is broader than the right hand 



