CLASSIFICATION OF MEDUSA. 81 
eggs. In 1835, Sars represented medusiform bodies similarly produced, from the bases 
of the tentacula of the Corymorpha nutans ; in this case the Medusoids closely resembled 
Steenstrupia.* In the same year, Dr. Loven observed the formation of Medusoids on the 
Syncoryne, the animals produced being very similar to Medusze of the genus Sarsia. About 
the same time, Sir John Graham Dalyell described the formation of Medusa-like buds on 
Tubularia. In 1840, Professor Steenstrup, when in Iceland, found a polype, which he named 
Coryne fritillaria, from whose head bell-shaped bodies, closely resembling our Steenstrupia 
in form, hang, and were regarded by him as individual animals.t In 1843, M. F. Dujardin 
communicated to the ‘Annales des Sciences Naturelles’ a Short but interesting paper, “ On a 
New Genus of Médusaires, proceeding from the Metamorphosis of Syncoryne.’ He calls 
the parent animal Stauridia, and the medusoid, which he saw detach itself and swim away, 
Cludonema. He remarks, that it is closely allied to the genera Oceania, Thaumantias, 
and Cyteis. In 1844, Professor van Beneden, of Louyain, published his ‘Researches on the 
Embryogeny of the Tubulariz ;’ and in his memoir described and figured medusiform-bodies 
produced from species of Zubularia, Eudendrium, and Syncoryna. Those of the last-named 
genus resembled Sarsz@ ; those of the two former had close affinities with Zizzia, especially 
the medusoid of Ludendrium. In 1846, Sars, in his ‘ Fauna Littoralis Norwegie,’ figured the 
medusoids of Syncoryna Sarsii, Podocoryna carnea, and Perigonymus muscoides, all closely 
resembling Sarsie. That of the Podocoryna comes very near the Medusa papillata figured 
by Abildgaard in the ‘ Zoologia Danica.’ 
Similar observations have been made, from time to time, on the Campanularia. Ellis 
appears to have been the first to notice the productions of Medusoids in that tribe, though 
he evidently did not understand what he saw. In 1834, Mr. Lister communicated his 
valuable microscopic observations on Zoophytes to the Royal Society, and in his paper 
describes and figures Medusa-like animals in course of production from Campanularie. In 
1836, Sir John Graham Dalyell distinctly proved and made known the production from 
Campanularie of free animals like true Meduse. He named the creature “ Animalculum 
tintinnabulum.’+ In 1839, Nordman announced his observation of the free Medusa condition 
of young Campanularig.§ In 1843, Van Beneden, in his ‘Memoirs on the Campanulariz 
of the Coast of Ostend, entered into full details on the subject. The figure which he 
gives of the medusoids in this tribe reminds us strikingly of Zima and Geryonia. He remarks 
that the W/edusa marina of Slabber, the type of the genus Obelia of Peron and Lesueur, 
is a young Campanularia. During the same year, similar phenomena were observed by 
Kolliker. 
Various interpretations were offered of these phenomena. Many zoologists followed 
Muller, and regarded them as eggs. Others held them to be gemmules. Ehrenberg put 
forth the strange theory that they were female polypes, a view supported by Léven and 
Krohn. Van Beneden considered them young budding polypes, a notion held previously by 
* Besk. og Jagt., pl. 1, fig. 3, g, 3, f. 
+ Steenstrup, Alternation of Generations, Mr. Busk’s Translation, p. 27, pl. 1, fig. 41-3. (Ray 
Society.) 
t Ed. New. Phil. Journ., vol. xxi. 
§ Comptes Rendus, 1839. 
