Miscellaneous. 145 



ment " is probably molecules of both animal and vegetable bodies, 

 either living or derived from decomposition," and that " the faecal 

 matters discharged by the oscula exhibit all the characteristics of 

 having undergone a complete digestion." 



If it be any satisfaction to Dr. Wallich, I assure him that my 

 estimate of his memoir on the North-Atlantic Sea-bed remains un- 

 changed. It is only to be regretted that the work is incomplete. 



J. GwTN Jeffreys. 



22 January, 1870. 



Note on the Habits of the Discophora. 

 * By the Rev. Thomas Hincks, B.A, 



In the Number of the ' Annals ' for October last, Dr. Gray reports 

 an interesting observation on the habits of certain Medusse, which 

 had been communicated to him by Mr. M' Andrew. This gentleman 

 had informed him that he had often seen the sea-jellies (^Medusa 

 (equorea, Forskal) "lying on their backs at the bottom of the beautiful 

 clear water of the Red Sea, with the tentacles expanded like a 

 flower." Dr. Gray adds that he is not aware that this habit has 

 been observed or recorded before. 



My object in writing is to point out that the same thing was 

 noticed long ago by Mertens. He states (as quoted by Agassiz) 

 that he had constantly found Medusae (Poh/clonia Mertensii) in the 

 lagoons of Ualan, " with their arms spread and turned upward, 

 resting upon the ground." As Agassiz adds that he himself had 

 always seen the members of this genus " in the reverse position, the 

 arms downward," Mr. M'Andrew's testimony in support of the elder 

 naturalist has a positive value. Probably when at rest the free 

 zooids of the Discophora generally may assume the position described 

 by Mertens, or at any rate those which are accustomed to seek their 

 food at the bottom of the sea. 



Agassiz has studied another species (Polyelonia frondosa) on the 

 Florida reefs, and states that it has the curious habit *' of groping 

 in the coral mud at the bottom of the water, where thousands upon 

 thousands may be seen crowded together, almost as closely as they 

 can be packed upon the bottom, at a depth of from six to ten feet. 

 When disturbed, they do not rise, but crawl about like creeping 

 animals, now and then only flapping their umbreUa." 



Note on the Occurrence of two Species of Crustacea not hitherto oh- 

 sen>ed in Scotland. By M. Watson, M.D. 



When dredging, in the month of September, last year, along with 

 some friends, off" the north coast of the island of Mull, I had the 

 good fortune to procure two species of Crustacea which, so far as I 

 can ascertain, have not before been obtained on any part of the 

 Scottish coast, although they would appear to be not uncommon on 

 some parts of that of England. These are the angular crab (Gono- 

 plax angidata) and the four-horned pea-crab (P«s« tetraodon) of Bell. 



The former was taken in Bloody Bay, at a depth of about twenty- 



