CARYBDEID.E — CHIROPS ALMUS . 



517 



The peripheral, gastrovascular system consists in the usual 4 wide, perradial stomach- 

 pouches, separated by 4 narrow, interradial septa, which are interrupted at the point of origin 

 of each pedalium where a canal extends downward from the adjacent stomach-pouches and 

 branches in finger-like ramuli leading into the tentacles of the pedalium. The 50 or more 

 velar canals have already been described. The 8 leaf-like gonads are well developed and 

 resemble those of Caryhdca but are not yet mature. They arise on both sides of each inter- 

 radial septum and project into the wide, perradial stomach-pouches. 



The bell is milky-yellow in formation and there are traces of a dull purple-pink coloration 

 in the tentacles. The ocelli are dark brown. 



I am informed that this medusa is abundant in Subig Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 

 where it is captured in seines. The natives are said to preserve it in vinegar, and when so 

 prepared it is sold in the markets for food. 



In the young medusa having a bell 18 mm. high and 20 mm. wide, there are only 4 or 5 

 tentacles on each pedalium and the subumbrella saccules have not begun to develop, nor is 

 there any visible trace of the gonads. The abaxial finger of each pedalium is longest, and 

 the 3 others are evidently of more recent development, are very short, and lie nearer the velar 

 margin. The longest (abaxial) tentacles are about 7 mm. long when contracted, and the 

 axially placed younger tentacles are shorter. The perradial brackets of the velarium are 

 beginning to develop and there are about 7 irregularly but simply branched velar canals in 

 each quadrant. 



Haeckel, 1880, describes a somewhat larger young specimen from Rangoon, Indian 

 Ocean. The medusa is common among the Philippine Islands. 



I am told that this medusa grows to be about 150 mm. in diameter, although the largest 

 specimen in the Albatross collection is only lOO mm. wide, but appears to be mature. It is 

 found swimming in shallow water near the shore. It is very closely allied to the Atlantic 

 C. quadrumanus, but may be distinguished by its laterally flattened cock's-comb-shaped 

 gastric saccules, those of C quadrumanus being finger-shaped. 



The following is a record of specimens of Chiropsalmus quadrigatus obtained by the 

 Albatross in 1908 in the Philippine Islands: 



Chiropsalmus zygonema Haeckel. 



Chlropsalmus zygonema, Haeckel, 1880, Syst. der Medusen, p. 641. 



Bell 4-sided, pyramidal with a truncated apex, 60 mm. high and 40 mm. wide, including 

 height of velarium. The 4 pedalia are leaf-shaped, each with only 2 short, asymmetrical, 

 gelatinous, finger-shaped branches which give rise to long, lash-like tentacles. In all, there- 

 fore, there are but 8 tentacles. Stomach round and sac-like, oesophagus small with 4 lappets, 

 though only half as long as stomach. 4 interradial bow-like areas of gastric cirri in stomach 

 wall. The stomach gives rise to 4 perradially situated pouches, on both sides of the entrance 

 to each of these pouches near the stomach are 2 very small, oval pouch-arms — 8 in all. 



This species is found off the Argentine coast. South America. It differs from all other 

 species of Chiropsalmus in its simple, 2-pronged pedalia, and in the very small finger-like 

 pouches of the stomach. The velarium and gonads are similar to those of C. quadrumanus. 



