l886.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 147 



thirty-eight feet from tip to tip of arms. We have evidence, 

 from fragments of this animal which have been found in the 

 stomach of the sperm whale, that there exist in the Pacific seas 

 specimens many times larger than the one from which these 

 suction-cups were taken." 



LAOMEDEA, SERTULARIA PUMILA, AND EGGS OF THE 

 HERMIT-CRAB. 



Mr. F. W. Leggett : " Under the first microscope, I have 

 placed a branch of Laomedea which was hardened in alcohol 

 and mounted in glycerine. Some of the polypes are partially 

 expanded as in life. Death overtook the creature while its ten- 

 tacles were conveying food to its mouths. This zoophyte at- 

 taches itself to floating sea-grass, and a person not using a mag- 

 nifying glass in looking at it might consider it an accumulation 

 of shore filth. It is, however, exceedingly interesting, as the 

 whole branch represents one family, each polype being one of 

 its many mouths, which not only act as the collectors of food 

 for the household, but are also the seat of the reproductive 

 organs — for from them are shot into existence objects resembling 

 Medusae in appearance, the ova of which, subsequently de- 

 veloped, become in time Laomedea. 



" Under the next microscope, I have placed a specimen of 

 Sertularia puinila, prepared similarly to the Laomedea. This, 

 also, was found attached to sea-grass. Unfortunately, the 

 polypes died in their closed cells ; but, as these are perfectly 

 transparent, the inmates can be seen, in appearance looking 

 like beautiful tassels. 



" Under the third microscope is a cluster of the eggs of the 

 Hermit-crab. The young in the eggs are well grown and ready 

 to emerge. I have found these eggs fastened to the long hairs 

 of the mother crab. I have also found them, in the same con- 

 dition, attached to floating grass. Some authors say that the 

 eggs remain fastened to the parent until they are able to ' pad- 

 dle their own canoes.' I have here, in this bottle, some of the 

 zoophytes I have just described, attached to weeds. There is 

 in the bottle a snail-shell also, occupied by a Hermit-crab. To 

 the shell is attached JLydractinia, a specimen of which I ex- 

 hibited at the last meeting." 



