518 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[6] 



to be the line of attachment of nectocalices. In a large number of 

 specimens, however, no sign of a nectocalyx was discovered. 



The distal end of the anterior stem (portion from which the knobs 

 arise) is marked by a cluster of spherical or club-shaped bodies, which 

 in some of the specimens have a reddish color even in alcohol. These 

 botryoidal clusters resemble sexual bodies. The distal region of the 

 stem from the cluster of bodies last mentioned is much longer than 

 the anterior, and bears on one side a double row of flask-shaped bodies 

 closely crowded together. These bodies are fimbriated on one side by 

 small lateral appendages, and are thought to be polypites. No tentacles 

 were observed, and no clusters of sexual bodies or immature tentacular 

 knobs at the bases of the polypites. No clusters of sexual bodies on the 

 axis between the union of the supposed polypites and the axis. 



The polyp stem is spirally coiled in many of the specimens. No 

 hydrophyllia. Tasters, unknown. 



It must be said that the interpretation given to the different organs 

 which has been given above is somewhat conjectural. Of the float, 

 stem, and polypites there can be little doubt. It seems probable that 

 the cluster of bodies which separate the anterior stem from the polyp 

 stem are sexual bodies. 



The nectocalices and hydrophyllia are easily ruptured from the stem, 

 and their absence may simply be due to this fact. It seems strange 

 that among so many specimens not even a fragment of these bodies is 

 found, while in specimens of Agalma, collected by the same collectors, 

 these gelatinous structures are well preserved. We shall, therefore, 

 look with interest to a new collection of Pleurophysa and a study of 

 better-preserved specimens for anatomical details, which this account 

 necessarily leaves in great imperfection. 



Family PHYSALIAD^E. 



Physalia aretiiusa, Tilesius. 



This physophore is one of the most commonly collected of all the 

 siphonophores of the Gulf Stream. In the collections of 1885-'86 it is 

 recorded from the following localities : 



