The outline of the larva at this stage is not at all rigid 

 but a single larva may be seen to assume many shapes if watched 

 attentively for only a few minutes. It may assume, indeed, 

 any figure, from a very elongated oval to a short heart-shape. 

 But, in any case, there is almost always one end that is more 

 obtuse than the other, and this is always the forward end of 

 the larva. Figs. 2a, b, and c. | 



To one watching a swimming larva it is very noticeable 

 ths.t one transverse diameter of the body is considerably short- 

 er than the other. In fact, the larva is usually rather 



broadly eliptical in cross section, except when strongly con- 



t 



tracted, when it may be irregularly quadrangular. Figs. 3 

 and 4. 



In color the larva is white specked with a few greenish 

 brown spots (the green cells) and it is very opaque. It swims 

 usually close to the bottom with a varying speed that is some- 

 times quite rapid. l^ftien it strikes an obstacle it may, v/hile 

 in contact witii it remain quiet or it may rotate slowly on its 

 long axis. After a short time it will genei^lly move away a- 

 gain. In the shallow dishes in which the scyphistomas were 

 kept, the swimming larvae might often be found hiding;, as it 

 were, beneath bits of bark and wood to which the scyphistomas 

 were attached, and when disturbed they would go swimming about. 



I - 26 - i 



