THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. 107 



These buds are probably the beginnings of the future 

 ovaries. 



The proboscis is destitute of its rounded gelatinous base, 

 and hangs downward to within a short distance of the bell- 

 opening. The mouth is formed as in the adult. It is four- 

 parted and has frilled lips. 



Intermediate stages of growth between this and the 

 adult were collected in March and April near the wharf 

 and in the zone of kelp at Santa Barbara. There was hardly 

 a day, when the water was smooth, during which multitudes 

 of these medusae were not observed from landing places at 

 Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. They appear also to be 

 common in the Bay of San JFrancisco . 



The adult Polyorchis is the largest medusa of Tubula- 

 rian hydroids, or Anthomedusae, yet found in American 

 waters. At the same time, it is one of the most beautiful, 

 and its great abundance in California invites one to a study 

 of the unsolved question of its hydroid and early develop- 

 ment. 



STEENSTRUPIA OCCIDENTALIS sp. nov. 



(PLATE III, FIG. 1.) 



A hydroid medusa with a single tentacle has never been 

 described from our Pacific coast. Several specimens of a 

 genus which seems to be the same as Steenstrupia were 

 taken by night fishing at Santa Cruz. 1 This is the first men- 

 tion of this genus from our west coast. 



The bell is ovoid, without apical prominence, slightly a- 

 symmetrical. There are rows of meridional lasso-cells ex- 

 tending on the outer surface of the bell, from the marginal 

 end of the radial chymiferous tubes towards the apex of 



The display of phosphorescence at night in the Bay of Monterey is one of the 

 most marvellous sights which I have ever seen. Although I have seen similar phe- 

 nomena in many places, I have never seen it brighter than one night near the end 

 of April at Santa Cruz. 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XXI 8 



