294 J- Beard 



The common species of Myzostoma iu tbe Mediterranean is 

 M. cirriferum^ which wanders freely about tbe disc and arms of its 

 best. Every Comatula in tbe Bay of Naples is more or less infested 

 witb tbis parasite. 



M. glahrum, on tbe otber band, is mucb rarer, not being found 

 oftener, according- to L. von Graff's observations (witb wbicb my 

 own agreed), tban on every tbird Comatula. 



31. glabrum is a sessile parasite, and is found seated at tbe 

 edge of tbe oral cavity of its bost. Tbe dwarf males may, or may 

 not, be present on any particular bermapbrodite specimen; indeed, 

 if several large bermapbrodite forms be found on one bost, males 

 will probably be absent ^ Tbe males, wben present, are ürmly 

 fixed at tbe anterior median part of tbe dorsal region of 

 tbe bermapbrodite. A true male bas never been met witb 

 in any otber position or on tbe disc. 



In addition to tbe large bermapbrodites and tbeir associated 

 males, very small M. glabrum may also be found on tbe disc; in 

 some cases tbese may be even smaller tban tbe dwarf males. Tbe 

 true males rarely exceed about 1.01 mm in diameter, but young 

 bermapbrodites measuring only about 0.75 mm may be found. 



Diligent searcb of fresb specimens of Comatula would probably 

 reveal still smaller disc-individuals, but in my material, collected 

 at Naples in 1884, only a single one smaller tban tbe above could 

 be detected. 



The points at issue may be stated as follows: — If Nansen 

 were rigbt in bis contention, tbat tbe males were probably not fixed 

 forms but merely young bermapbrodites, or bermapbrodites witb 

 rudimeutary female organs, tben one ougbt to find in some male or 

 otber rudiments (Spuren) or foundations (Anlagen) of tbe female 

 Organs; and, tbe larger the males examined, the greater tbe chance 

 ougbt to be of meeting witb traces of eggs or female organs 2, 

 Furtber, if tbe males were merely protandrous bermapbrodites, wbose 

 Position on tbe larger forms was, tberefore, purely accidental, as 

 VON Graff originally supposed, tben very minute specimens of 



1 It appears to be quite possible that M. ylahrum inaj- exhibit a sort of 

 sexual dimorphism, of such a kind that certain of the henuaphrodites may always 

 be associated with other hermaphrodites only, while others may be connected 

 with the males. 



- The essential female orgaus are here meaut. Tlie question of ducts will 

 be afterwards discussed. 



