I05 



Fam. Bathyphvsidae nobis. 



Bathyphysa Studer 78. 

 Pterophysa Fewkes 84. 



Studer 78 described fragments of a huge Siphonophore which seemed to be new to 

 science and which he called Bathyphysa abyssoriini\ the name indicates that they came from a 

 considerable depth (1780 fthms and 1000 fthms). 



After disentangling a great number of siphons and tentacles he managed to eet free a 

 pneumatophore and a stem of about one meter length. The former (length 19 mm.) had burst; 

 through its outer wall the pneumatosaccus projected, only attached to the inner wall near the 

 sphincter of the porus. 



In a more complete sketch of this same pneumatophore belonging to Studer's original 

 material, which Prof. F. Eilh. Schulze of Berlin was kind enough to have made for us (PI. XXIV, 

 fig. 1 66) we find that there are certainly no hypocystic villi near the base of the pneumatosaccus, 

 as K. C. Schneider 98 thought there might be. 



The stem could be divided into two parts, a long spirally wound thin part (length 60 cm., 

 breadth only 3 mm.) in which no traces of appendages ("Zoiden") could be found. The distal 

 part (40 cm.) was flattened, cylindrical, had a breadth of 3 cm. and on the conve.x side Studer 

 found the spots where the appendages used to be attached. There are first alternate rows of 

 zooids; these gradually change into one row. This was the only part of the stem which he 

 could isolate. x'\ll the tentacles and siphons w^hich were wound around it, were detached. i\ part 

 of another stem showed him how these siphons were actually situated on the stem. 



Fig. 38 and 39 of Plate III of his work show a siphon hanging on a kind of stem, but 

 what the long thread-like appendage might be, we could not decide. They were wound around 

 the stem in a way which suggests a tentacle rather than the long stalk of a siphon. Pig. 27 

 of the same plate shows us, however, that the siphons are indeed provided with such long stalks. 

 We wanted to convince ourselves of the fact and through the kindness of Prof F. Eilh. Schulze 

 we were able to compare a siphon of Studer's original material with his sketches and we came 

 to the conclusion that Bathyphysa actually possesses long-stalked siphons. The siphons possess 

 moreover wing-like appendages on the right and left sides, which are little developed. The 

 " erbsengrosse Anschwellungen" which Studer mentions as being present on the stalks we could 

 not find in the specimens which were sent to us. The aspect of Bathyphysa adyssoruiii as Studer 

 reconstructed it (PI. Ill, fig. 28) is therefore probably very near the truth. 



Another difficult point was the total absence of an)- appendages or even protuberances 

 on the pro.ximal part of the stem. This we thought could not be possible, as over a length of 

 60 cm. there ought to be some small trace left. As it was not possible to get the entire material 

 of Studer, Prof. Schulze kindly had some sketches made, which are taken in the same position 

 as PI. Ill, figg. 23, 23 of Studer's work. And we can only confirm Studer's statement of the 

 total absence of any swelling on this part of the stem. The stem is exceedingly twisted and 

 contorted and but for a groove running along in the median line probably throughout its 



SIHOGA-EXPEDITIE IX. I4 



