PRAYINAE. 197 



The previous records for Amphicaryon are the Canary Islands (Chun, '88), 

 where "Mitrophyes" likewise was found (Haeckel, '88b), and possibly also 

 Bermuda (Chun, '97b, p. 16). 



Prayinae Hafxkel, ISSS. 



Considering that the published accounts justify the recognition of only 

 seven species, two of which are insufficiently known, the synonymy of this 

 subfamily is remarkably confused. The earliest descriptions of any Prayids 

 are probably those of Rosacea plicata and of R. ceutensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 

 '27). The figure of R. ceutensis is so insufficient that it is impossible to identify 

 it beyond the mere fact that it was taken from a single nectophore belonging 

 to this subfamily. But the figure of R. plicata (Quoy and Gaimard, '27, pi. 

 4B), shows clearly the short broad outline, and the terminal dilation of the 

 ascending branch of the somatocyst which are characteristic of the animal since 

 described by Kolliker ('53) and by Vogt ('54) as Praya diphyes. Chun ('85) 

 has founded Lilyopsis for species with special nectophores, such as Lilyopsis 

 diphyes. Of course the identification of figures so lacking in detail as the original 

 ones of Rosacea plicata, can never be absolutely certain; but for the sake of 

 stability it is most desirable to give old names a final resting place; and since 

 Quoy and Gaimard's figure of R. plicata shows the two trivial characters, i. e. 

 form of the nectophores and dilation of the somatocyst, which must readily 

 serve to distinguish L. diphyes from P. cymbiformis which strongly resembles 

 it in external appearance, and when, furthermore, the figure certainly belongs 

 to one or to the other, as Leuckart ('53) and Huxley ('59) long ago pointed out, 

 no course is open but to follow Schneider ('98) in identifying it with L. diphyes. 

 Lilyopsis then becomes a synonym of Rosacea, L. diphyes of R. plicata. 



The following also belong to Rosacea, because of the presence of special 

 nectophores: — Praya diphyes Graeffe ('60), Praya medusa Metschnikoff ('70), 

 Lilyopsis rosea (Chun, '85). These agree with one another so closely, especially 

 in the form of the definitive nectophores, and in the structure of bract, gono- 

 phore, and special nectophore, that there is every reason to unite them. Praya 

 blaino Fewkes ('83a) and P. gracilis Fewkes ('83a) also belong here, so far as 

 the rather unsatisfactory descriptions indicate. The same is true of Haeckel's 

 Lilyopsis catena, from the Canary Islands, all we know of which being that it is 

 similar to rosea (Haeckel, '88b, p. 150). The resultant compound species is 

 easily distinguished from R. plicata by the triangular shape of the definitive 

 nectophores, the relatively large nectosacs, and the presence of tentacular rudi- 



