OCCURRENCE OF THE FRESH-WATER MEDUSA, 

 LIMNOCODIUM, IN THE UNITED STATES. 1 



CHAS. W. HARGITT. 



In a preliminary note to Science, which appeared in the issue 

 of November 8 (1907), attention was directed to the occurrence 

 of Limnocodinm in this country, and some brief account given of 

 this circumstances and conditions of its appearance. As indicated 

 in that report a few living specimens came into the possession of 

 the writer through the courtesy of the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries, and were kept alive and under observation for a period 

 of some ten days. Since it was confidently anticipated that a 

 further supply of specimens would be received very soon no 

 particular care was taken to prolong the life of the first supply. 

 A few were used for some simple experiments, to be described in 

 a later section, and some preserved for histological purposes. 

 It is with extreme regret that I have to record the utter failure of. 

 attempts to secure a further supply of living specimens, though 

 from no particular blame of those concerned. At least one lot 

 was forwarded to the writer at Syracuse, and left Washington in 

 good shape, but from some cause not clear all were dead when 

 received, having perished in transit. Other supplies were imme- 

 diately sought, but within a few days the very disappointing advice 

 was received from the director of the aquarium that the medusae 

 had suddenly disappeared. Quoting his own words : " When I 

 went to the tank where they have been so plentiful for the past eight 

 weeks there was not one to be seen, and apparently they have dis- 

 appeared as mysteriously as they came. Possibly on account of 

 the cold weather they may have gone to the bottom of the tank, 

 among the pipes where I cannot get them, but if I discover them 

 again I will advise you at once." This letter bore date of Sep- 

 tember 27. In a later letter, December 3, I was advised that no 

 specimens had appeared during the interval of two months, and 

 from the history of these medusae in Europe this is only what 

 might have been anticipated. Therefore, with the first chapter 



1 Contributions from the Zoological Laboratory, Syracuse University. 



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