Miscellaneous. 501 



into eighteen segments, with a yellowish line down the centre of the 

 whole and which was much darker towards the tail ; on each segment 

 were two dark spots ; and long fine pointed hairs extended the whole 

 length of the animal beyond the tail. The head had much the ap- 

 pearance of a cat, and my youngest boy, with child-like simplicity, 

 called it " the little sea-cat," and would not let me rest until I had 

 sketched it. The head was divided into three parts, the centre one 

 being raised ; on each side of this raised part were the crescent-shaped 

 dark eyes, large in proportion to the animal ; between the eyes three 

 small dark spots ; on each side of the snout were whisker-like ap- 

 pendages, spoon-shaped at the end ; on each cheek a fan tipped with 

 pointed hairs, which with the whiskers moved at times rapidly ; at 

 the hind part of the head two hoop-like ears — these also moved freely. 

 It had, as well, short hairs on the tail, broadest at the outer end ; 

 these, as well as those on the head, were in rapid motion whenever 

 the animal moved about, but quiet when it was at rest. 



Figs. 7-9. — Thaumantias lucifera, which by some means had got 

 into contact with a Sagitta. Whether it had employed the Sagitta to 

 remove a bone which it had in its throat, after one of its delicate 

 repasts, as the wolf did the crane, or not, I am unable to say : if so, 

 1 c was not so honourable as the wolf ; for despite of all the exertions 

 of the Sagitta to free itself, and although the swallower's stomach 

 was turned outwards in the struggle, he still refused to let him go ; 

 and the only diiference that I could see was, the lips were pressed 

 tighter round the head of his mouthful than before ; for I fre- 

 quently saw him, previously to the tuvn-out, smacking his lips, as 

 if like the smoker of the present day he was enjoying his cigar : no 

 doubt the dread of separation rendered tliis tight embrace necessary, 

 having met With a very rough customer. This appears to me to be a 

 proof positive that the Medusee prey upon other animals, and hesi- 

 tate not to attack those of large size, if they fall in their way ; for I 

 cannot believe this intrusion into the stomach of the Medusa arose 

 from any Paul-Pry accident on the part of the Sagitta. It was a 

 fearful struggle, maintained with great obstinacy on both sides, and 

 which I watched for a quarter of an hour. I left them still locked, 

 at 2 A.M., hoping at daylight to see the result of the affair, but 

 found the vanquisher and the vanquished had vanished, and left only 

 a very minute granular wreck behind. This rapid destruction is not 

 uncommon among the minute objects which swarm in the sea ; for as 

 soon as the least weakness or sign of decay takes place, the still smaller 

 scavengers fall upon them, and in a very short time all trace of them 

 is lost — so abundant and so voraciovis are tl^ese sweepers. 



TIME OF SPAWNING OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 

 Gentlemen, Weymouth, Nov. 3, 1851. 



I INCLOSE you a table of data which may probably assist in deter- 

 mining the times of spawning of twenty -four species of Crustacea taken 

 at Weymouth. I have taken many other species, and many other 

 specimens of the species of which I now inclose the list, but not one 



