SARSIA GEMMIFERA. 57 
devoured these animals, so much more highly organized than themselves, voraciously ; appa- 
rently enjoying the destruction of the unfortunate members of the upper classes with a truly 
democratic relish. One of them even attacked and commenced the swallowing of a Lizzxia 
octopunctata, quite as good a Medusa as itself. An animal which can pout out its mouth 
twice the length of its body, and stretch its stomach to corresponding dimensions, must indeed 
be “a triton among the minnows,” and a very terrific one too. Yet is this ferocious creature 
one of the most delicate and graceful of the inhabitants of the ocean—a very model of ten- 
derness and elegance. 
Plate VI, fig. 2, a, represents the Sarsia tubulosa of natural size; 2, 6, magnified ; 
2, c, a tentacle, bulb, and ocellus; 2, d, the peduncle retracted and inflated. 
2. Sarsia pulchella, Forbes. 
Plate VI, Fig. 3. 
A much smaller species than the last ; none of the specimens which I have met exceeding 
a quarter of an inch in length of body. The umbrella is sub-orbicular, and very convex, 
transparent, colourless, and smooth. The margin is quadrate, each angle bearing a large 
ocellated tubercle, from which a rather thick tentacle sprigs. The tentacle is of a pale pink 
colour; the tubercle at its base transparent, with a mass of pink or orange pigment-cells at 
its upper part, from which depends a brilliant green pedicle, with a jet-black ocellus at its 
extremity. The sub-umbrella is prominent, and rather conic. Down its sides run the four 
gastric vessels, coloured pale pmk. Round its opening is a four-lobed veil. From its centre 
hangs the proboscidiform peduncle, which is rarely protruded beyond the umbrella, and more 
frequently contracted into various flask-like shapes. Its point of affixment rises as a short 
pink cone above the sub-umbrella; its orifice is round. It is of a brownish-red colour, with 
a green-tinged oral extremity. 
It is a very active animal, and very tenacious of life. It never extends its tentacula so 
far as the preceding species, and often carries them coiled up spirally. I found several 
specimens in Brassay Sound, Zetland, in 1845. 
Plate VI, fig. 3, a, represents this species of the natural size; 3, 6, magnified; 3, ¢, the 
bulb of a tentacle; 3, d, a tentacle coiled up. 
3. Sarsia gemmifera, Forbes. 
Plate VII, Fig. 2. 
The very remarkable animal which I have now to describe, was discovered in the Zetland 
seas by Mr. M‘Andrew and myself in 1845: several specimens were taken. It was the first 
Sarsia which we found exhibiting a distinct mode of reproduction, and that by gemmation 
from the walls of the peduncle. 
The Sarsia gemmifera is a very small species, scarcely a quarter of an inch in length of 
body. Its umbrella is pyriform, smooth, and colourless. The aperture of it is rather con- 
tracted and quadrangular. At each angle there is a conspicuous ocellated tubercle of a pear 
shape, its upper part pale tawny, its middle dark orange, and its base colourless, with a well- 
defined, jet-black ocellus. Round the orifice of the sub-umbrella, which is pyriform, is a four- 
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