APR261C95 



VAEIATION OF TENTACULOCYSTS OP AURELIA AURITA. 245 



On the Variation of the Tentaculocysts of 

 Aurelia aurita. 



By 



Edward T. Browne, B.A., 



University College, London. 



With Plate 25. 



It was a suggestion from Professor Weldon that led me to 

 examine a large number of specimens of the ephyrse and adult 

 stage of Aurelia aurita for the purpose of finding out the 

 variation in the number of tentaculocysts, and if a variation 

 occurred among the ephyrse to see how far it affected the 

 adults. 



All the specimens were collected and preserved at Plymouth 

 by the officials of the Marine Biological Association, and I 

 sincerely thank the director, Mr. Edward J. Bles, for the loan 

 of so many specimens. 



The ephyrse are divided into two sets ; the first collected 

 during the spring of 1893, the second specially obtained for 

 me during the spring of 1894. 



The ephyra of Aurelia normally has eight arms, each bear- 

 ing a tentaculocyst, four perradial bundles of gastric filaments, 

 and four mouth lappets. 



The first table gives the numerical variation of the tentacu- 

 locysts of 359 specimens collected in 1893. 



VOL. 37, PAKT 3. NEW SEE, K 



