216 FAUNISTIC NOTES AT PLYMOUTH DURING 1898-4. 
in the tow-nets during August, 1893. The tentacles were regular, 
and sixteenin number. One or generally two otocysts were situated 
between every two adjacent tentacles. There were no cirri. The 
mouth had four very short lips, absolutely smooth ; and there was 
no peduncle. The gonads formed four oval swellings almost at the 
distal extremities of the four radial canals. 
Early in February this year I again saw a number of Lepto- 
meduse resembling those just described in many respects, but 
approaching more nearly Haeckel’s Phialidiwm variabile. The size 
was in some cases as much as that of a threepenny piece. The 
tentacles, sixteen in number, were long, and arose from stout pigmented 
bulbs. ‘There was one otocyst between every two adjacent tentacles, 
and in one instance I saw two in that position. No peduncle. 
Radial canals four; gonads oval, elongated, in the distal halves. 
The species at first suggested to me the Hpenthesis cymbaloidea of 
Haeckel, but the occasional occurrence of two otocysts im an inter- 
tentacular arc, the absence of a distinct ocellus, and the sharp 
boundary between the basis and filament of the tentacles, eventually 
inclined me towards Phialidium variabile. 
Another Leptomedusa which it may be useful to record is the 
Thaumantias octona of Forbes, which I observed on two occasions in 
February and March, 1894. Haeckel places this medusa in the 
eenus Hucope, owing to his belief that the “two vesicles”? which 
Forbes describes and figures in juxtaposition on the edge of the 
umbrella are the optical expression of an otolithic capsule. ‘These 
bodies, however, are quite separate from one another, as described by 
Forbes; and although I am not able to throw any light on their function 
or fate, I may say that Haeckel’s suggestion is devoid of foundation. 
The interesting Lucernarian Depastrum cyathiforme was twice 
obtained last year, in March at Drake’s Island, and in May at Rame 
Head. One of the specimens obtained at the latter place exhibited 
a distinct lateral bud, a phenomenon not hitherto recorded, I believe, 
among Lucernarians. 
CrmnopHora.—A number of specimens of the lobate Ctenophore 
Bolina hydatina were obtained on several occasions in the Sound 
during the latter half of May this year. Many of the specimens 
were of the full size mentioned by Chun in his monograph, viz. up 
to 4 cm. in length, and were obtained in capital condition in spite 
of their extreme delicacy. The species was first identified at 
Plymouth by Mr. Riches, who noticed specimens in the tow-nets 
towards the end of May, 1892. Its recurrence at exactly the same 
period this year renders all the more remarkable its apparent absence 
from Plymouth during the intermediate year, especially when the 
calmness and warmth of that summer are taken into consideration, 
