ii8 



Fam. Physalidae Brandt 35. 

 Physalia Lam. 

 60. Physalia uiriciilus La Martiniere. PI. XXIV, figg. 174, 175. 



= Physalia utricidns La Martiniere 1787. 



= Physalia ittriculus Gmelin. 1787. 



= Pliysalia utriculus Eschsch. 29. 



= Physalia utriculus Huxl. 59. 



= Physalia utriculus Chun 87. 



= Physalia utriculus Chun 97a. 



Stat. 19. Lat. 8° 44.5 S., Long. ii6°2'.5E. Bay of Labuan Tring, West-coast of Lombok, 



Cat. 3. One specimen, ale. 90°/^. killed by gradual addition of alcohol. 

 Stat. 172. Gisser; anchorage between this island and Ceram-Laut. Cat. 4. ale. 90%. 20 specimens. 

 Stat. 181. or 232. Ambon. Cat. 125. ale. 90°/^. One specimen. 



The 22 specimens of Physalia utricttlns are tolerablj' well-preserved in alcohol and of 

 nearly the same size, with e.xception of Cat. 125 which is larger. 



The literature of Physalia is enormously extensive and very confused. As we were 

 unable to examine the very oldest papers written on this subject, we confided in the authority 

 of well-known authors on Siphonophores^ among whom we mention especially Eschscholtz 29, 

 Huxley 59 and Chun 87 and 97a. 



Chun makes a fundamental division of all known Physalidae. He distinguishes Physalidae 

 of the Atlantic Ocean and Physalidae of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. The most important 

 difference between the two, is that in the latter only one largest tentacle is developed, around 

 which the other appendages become developed, and that in the distal region no such "Haupt- 

 tentakel" ever develops (Chun 97a p. 86). The atlantic Physalidae are characterized by the 

 presence of many such large tentacles on every part of the zone of proliferation. 



Indo-Pacific Physalidae he calls Physalia utricultis and this name we retained for the 

 specimens brought home by the "Siboga". 



Cat. 3 is a specimen in which only few appendages are left. As the float is well- 

 developed and of large size (length 3,5 cm.) we may suppose that many of its appendages 

 have become detached. 



The shape of the float varies extremely in all our specimens, owing to the various 

 stages of contraction by the preservative fluids. In Cat. 3 it is well-shaped, elongate, drawn out 

 proximally whilst its septa in the crest are clearly marked. Between the proximal point and 

 the groups of appendages a considerable space is left open. The appendages consist of one 

 large tentacle attaining considerable length and around it some groups of siphons. Gonodendra 

 there are none. A few buds of future appendages are to be seen on the most distal part of 

 the specimen, but no sign of tentacles was to be found. On the whole Cat. 3 was very unsatis- 

 factory for e.xamination. Better are the 20 specimens of Cat. 4. These are all of nearly the 

 same size (float 4, 4'/2, 5 cm.) and as they belong to the same species, they belong probably 

 to one of these great masses of Physalidae.^ which float quietly on the surface of the sea. 



