Miscellaneous. '^T'T 



lens is half-buried ; the free portion of this lens is perfectly naked 

 and bathed by the sea water. 



Siphonophora. 



1 . Tlie genus Eudoxia lately studied by M. Busch is distingiiished 

 by the possession of two organs sersing for generation ; one of these 

 is the natatory bell of the animal which contains either an ovary or a 

 testicle at its bottom. The other, which is smaller, and fixed at the base 

 of this bell, has a certain resemblance with the medusiform gemraules 

 of polypes, which has led M. Busch to the opinion that the Eudoxice 

 produced Medusae. This opinion does not agree with the author's 

 observations ; he has seen very distinctly that the organ in question 

 is only a natatory bell containing the organs of generation and serving 

 to replace the other after it has detached itself. 



2. With regard to Abyla pentagona the author has made a dis- 

 covery- which will serve to elucidate the history of the Stphotiophora 

 with a single sucker. A small siphonophorous Medusa of the 

 Eudoxia type, which occurs very frequently in the port of Messina, 

 and which possesses all the organs of the Eudoxice, including those 

 of generation, was found to be nothing but a detached portion of an 

 Abyla. That is to say, the fully developed AbylcB consist of a great 

 number of Eudoxiifonn animals, which become detached and lead an 

 independent existence. Each of these animals possesses a trunk or 

 sucker (polype according to M. Vogt) with a tentacle, a natatory beU, 

 containing the organs of generation, and a protective portion resem- 

 bhng a cube. This latter portion has not hitherto been observed, 

 which accounts for the relation between the Abylce and Eudoxice 

 having escaped the notice of MM. Quoy and Graimard, and M. K61- 

 liker. 



3. "With respect to the Velellce, the author believes he has ob- 

 served a Medusa which is an ulterior development of the gemmides 

 of these animals, which are attached to the smaller suckers. The 

 youngest of these Medusae resembled the detached gemmules de- 

 scribed by Huxley, whilst the larger ones possessed a stomach and 

 well-developed organs of generation, but no marginal corpuscles, and 

 only one tentacular cirrus. 



4. During last winter, the author attempted the artificial fecun- 

 dation of the Siphonophora. He succeeded completely with the ge- 

 nera Diphyes, Physophora, Agalmopsis, Hippopodius, and Forskahlia. 

 The development of the egg commenced with a complete wrinkling 

 of the yolk ; an embryo resembling a ciliated Infusory is then formed. 

 Its further development was only observed in the genus Diphyes ; the 

 first portion of the Diphyes which makes its appearance is the upper 

 part of the body and the natatory bell. M. Gegenbaur found a great 

 number of young Physophoridce very similar to those described by 

 M. Kolliker. 



Pteropoda and Heteropoda. 



1 . The author has observed the embryos of nearly all the genera 

 inhabiting the Mediterranean, viz. Carinaria, Firola, Atlanta, Hy- 



