102 DR. WEBF, ON THE NOCTILUCA MILIARIS. 



In the course of our observations we have arrived at the 

 conclusion, that the antennce serve, to a considerable extent, 

 as organs of touch in the female ; for the palpi are extremely 

 short, while the antennae are very movable, and nearly equal 

 the proboscis in length. In the viale, however, the length and 

 perfect development of the palpi would lead us to look for the 

 seat of the tactile sense elsewhere ; and, in fact, we find the 

 two apical antennal joints to be long, movable, and com- 

 paratively free from hairs ; and the relative motion of the 

 remaining joints very much more limited. 



On the NocTiLUCA Miliaris. By Woodham Webb, M.D., 



Lowestoft. 



Mr. Huxley's interesting paper in the last number of the 

 Journal on the structure of the Noctiluca miliaris, led me to 

 review a few notes I had by me upon the subject, and to 

 follow up certain points of inquiry which he indicated. 



Unfortunately, I am not able to complete the history of 

 this anomalous creature, though it has been under continuous 

 examination since last July. It may, however, be worth 

 while to record the few steps made in advance of the existing 

 accounts, in order to save other observers some labour, and to 

 serve as a sequel to Mr, Huxley's more elaborate communi- 

 cation. 



The extraordinary prevalence of this creature during the 

 present season seems to have excited general attention, and it 

 was stated by Mr. Byerly, of Liverpool, at the last meeting ol 

 the British Association, that in consequence of their numbers 

 the waters acquired a rose colour. This was not the case on 

 the eastern coast, though the unusually brilliant iridescence 

 of the water has been the subject of remark. From the month 

 of July to the beginning of December, there has been no 

 difficulty in obtaining an uninterrupted supply of specimens, 

 and during that period the water has shown incessant alter- 

 nations of luminosity and darkness. These conditions, there- 

 fore, depend not merely upon the presence or absence of the 

 animal, but on some peculiar conditions of its organs, or the 

 media acting upon them. 



As a caution to those who may undertake the further exa- 

 mination, I may state that the buoyancy of the Noctiluca is 

 such as to bring it to the surface of tranquil water without 

 any apparent effort ; and that the best way to eflect its capture 

 is, not as is most frequently done, to use the muslin net, by 

 which means the greater number of the creatures are lost or 



