LIMNOCODIUM IN THE UNITED STATES. 3 I 5 



4. The next specimen, somewhat larger than either of the 

 former, was transferred to distilled water, and pulsed rhythmic- 

 ally twenty-three times, then paused as had the former. Then 

 followed thirteen pulsations with another pause of similar extent, 

 during which it gradually sank to the bottom where it remained 

 motionless for three minutes. It then resumed its rhythmic 

 swimming and continued without further pause for ten minutes 

 when it was returned to the normal water. 



5. After about twenty-five minutes all three specimens were 

 transferred at once to a fresh jar of distilled water. In this case 

 the reactions were similar throughout, though with certain indi- 

 vidual differences such as one might expect. All swam rhyth- 

 mically for a half minute, and then paused as in the previous 

 cases. The rhythm was resumed and after a brief time two of 

 the specimens paused again, and as before sank to the bottom 

 of the jar, the third continued swimming. After a short rest 

 those on the bottom resumed their swimming, and all continued 

 for nearly half an hour, just as in normal water. They were left 

 in that condition for twenty minutes longer, when two were found 

 to have sunk to the bottom once more and seemed to show sign 

 of discomfort, such as the contraction of the tentacles, drawing 

 in of the margin of the bell, etc. The third while still swim- 

 ming, was evidently showing unusual signs of fatigue, the move- 

 ments being more or less feeble and uncertain. All were at once 

 transferred to normal water. Two soon showed signs of re- 

 covery, the third however, continued in a state of collapse and 

 failed to further recover. All had evidently been injured by the 

 long period in the distilled water, and one fatally, since it was 

 later found dead without indications of any recovery in the nor- 

 mal water. 



Such in briefest outline are the facts resulting from the few ex- 

 periments made. It should be stated that they were variously 

 repeated, and with such degree of constancy in behavior as to 

 suggest their perfectly trustworthy nature. Still other experi- 

 ments of the same sort would have been made, but for the con- 

 fident anticipation of a large supply of fresh specimens. 



In reviewing the literature of this medusa it has been gratify- 

 ing to find that some experimental work had long ago been done 



