ee 
a a ee 
Mr. G. Hodge on the Development of a Species of Pycnogon. 35 
ing or, rather, sprawling over Alge and Zoophytes, more fre- 
quently the latter. In most instances I have met with them on 
a muddy bottom, probably because the Zoophytes on which they 
seem to feed are found there. During a careful and systematic 
series of “rock-hunts,” undertaken with the view of obtaining a 
collection of the smaller and rarer marine animals of this part of 
our coast [Seaham], I collected a handful of a species of Coryne 
(C. eximia, Allman) from a small rock-pool, under the shelter of 
the overhanging side of which depended a most interesting fringe 
of Zoophytes, such as Coryne, Tubularia, Plumularia, &e. The 
Coryne was very abundant ; and many of the polyparies attained 
the unusual length of 3—4 inches, and were, at the period when 
taken (August), profusely covered with Medusoids in various 
stages of growth. As I collected these specimens, I noticed 
some peculiar dark brownish-red pear-shaped sacs scattered 
over the stems, more especially on the lower portions. Con- 
cluding they were some peculiar organisms connected with the 
growth of the Coryne, they did not receive more than a passing 
glance; but on arriving at home, the specimens were turned out 
into dishes, and by accident a hand-lens was applied to one of 
the dark-red sacs, when it was seen that the red colour depended 
principally upon a central portion, resembling in an extraordi- 
degree a small Pycnogon with very short legs. The sac 
was then ripped up; and the imbedded object, being extracted 
and gently freed from the investing mucus, proved to be a veri- 
table young Pycnogon. Here was a discovery—a Crustacean (?) 
within a Zoophyte! Puzzled and surprised, I endeavoured to 
ascertain more of the extraordinary partnership (the benefit all 
on one side, I am inclined to think) that appeared to exist be- 
tween the Coryne and the Pyenogon. 
three times the length of the body, equal, 8-joimted ; the basal joint short; 
the second somewhat longer than the third; the fourth slightly dilated, 
elongate; fifth and sixth slenderer, but as long; seventh minute ;. eighth 
rather long, falciform, spmous on its inferior edge, and terminated by a 
single rather long claw. [There are two claws: one is very small, and is 
rather difficult to see, from its position; it issues from the base of the 
larger, near to its insertion into the falciform joint, and clings closely to 
the larger claw.—G.H.|] Length of the body 2 lines, of the legs 6 lines. 
With a common magnifier, the body appears very smooth; but when a 
more powerful glass is used, it and the legs are seen to be roughish with 
minute granules.” (“An Attempt to ascertain the British Pyenogonide,”* 
by Geo. Johnston, M.D., in ‘ Magazine of Zoology and Botany,’ vol. i.) 
Phoxichilidium coccineum, Milne-Edwards, ‘ Crust.’ vol. iii. p. 536, 1840 
(Goodsir, in ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ vol. xiv. 1844), 
Nymphon femoratum (Rathke, Nat. Hist. Skrifter, vol. i. p. 201). 
Phoxichilidium femoratum, Kroyer, in ‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles’ 
for 1842. In speaking of this species, he says, “I believe this animal 
identical with the Orithyia coccinea from the coasts of England.” 
3* 
