EUCOPE DIAPIIANA. 



85 



Fig. 124. 



a tendency to be somewhat rectangular or bottle-shaped (Fig. 121), 

 while the ovaries, when distended with eggs (Fig. 122), are more 

 generally spherical ; the number of c^gs in an adult female pjg 12.3. 

 are not numerous, not more than twelve to fifteen ; the eggs 

 are quite large, and have a very sharply defuied germinative 

 vesicle. The proboscis (Fig. 123) lengthens but little in 

 older Medusa?, almost the only change being the greater 

 mobility of the lips of the actinostome ; the veil is totally 

 wanting in young Medusa\ and in the adult is a very nar- 

 row ribbon round the circular tube, hardly extending beyond 

 the root of the tentacles, so that it easily escapes notice. 



This Medusa is exceedingly phosphorescent, having a very white 

 brilliant light, which is given out most strongly at the base of the 

 long tentacles. These Medusae appear as early as 

 March, and are found as late as November. The 

 Ilydrarium (Fig. 124) grows to but little more than 

 an inch in height, and reseml)les Laomedea genicu- 

 lata ; but the absence of the knee at the base of the 

 sterile Hydra, and the long ringed branch support- 

 ing it, distinguish it at once from that species. The 

 calycle is elliptical, arching regularly towards the 

 centre, and tapering at the two ends (Fig. 125) ; from tw^elve to 

 fifteen Medusa3 develop in each calycle. Found at Fi„ v25 



near low-water-mark, attached to the base of Fiiciis 

 vesiculosus. 



It may be that the Medusa of Laomedea gcnindata 

 of Gosse, figured on Plate IV. of his "Devonshire;' 

 may prove to be the young of Thawnantias lucida of 

 Forbes, which is the English representative of our 

 Eucope diaj^hana. Should this be the case, the two 

 species are evidently distinct, and representative spe- 

 cies in the Acadian and Lusitanian Fauna. Is not 

 the Medusa fimbriata of Dalyell (PI. 52, Figs. 6, 7) 

 the same as the Medusa of Laomedea geniculata, and is it not also 

 identical with the Thaumantias lucida of Forbes ? 



Massachusetts Bay, Nahant (Agassiz) ; Buzzard's Bay, Naushon (A. 

 Agassiz). 



Cat. No. 78, Nahant, July, 1861, A. Agassiz. Hydromedusarium. 

 Cat. No, 79, Naushon, Sept. 1861, A. Agassiz. Hydromedusarium. 

 Cat. No. 281, Naushon, Sept. 1861, A. Agassiz. Hydromedusarium. 



Fig. 123. Proboscis of an adult McMlusa. 



Fig. 124. Hydrariuni of Eucope diaphana, natural size. 



Fig. 125. Magnified view of sterile Hydra and of a reproductive calycle. 



