68 THE MEDUSAE. 



In addition to Solmissus marshalli the collection contains the eleven speci- 

 mens tabulated above, which I believe to be identical with the S. incisa 

 of Fewkes. The disc is flat ; the gelatinous substance much softer than 

 in S. marshalli, and not nearly so thick in proportion to its breadth. As 

 appears from the above table, the number of tentacles is very much greater, 

 the largest number observed being thirty-two, the smallest eighteen. The com- 

 plete number of tentacles is early attained. Thus, in the specimen only 10 mm. 

 in diameter there are already sixteen tentacles well developed, and three 

 more in early stages of development (PL 21, figs. 2, 3). In a slightly 

 larger specimen, 17 mm. in diameter, there are twenty-one large tentacles, 

 and two more in early stages of development. Unfortunately the margins 

 of all the large specimens were too much damaged for me to be able to count 

 the otocysts. In the specimen 17 mm. in diameter there are two each in 

 two lappets, and in the smallest, 10 mm. in diameter, two in one lappet. 

 In the larger individuals, also, the number in each lappet seems to be small, 

 apparently not more than four or five. The otocysts themselves closely re- 

 semble those of S. marshalli, the supporting pads being large and somewhat 

 triangular, and each sense organ containing a single large rounded otolith 

 (PL 21, fig. 5). 



The gastric cavity in all the specimens was much battered ; enough, 

 however, remained in several to show that they certainly belong to Solmis- 

 sus, not to Solmaris. The gastric pockets were mostly torn away, but their 

 outlines could be traced, owing to the fact that in this species, as in 

 S. marshalli, the gastric wall, even in very fragmentary specimens, persists 

 in the regions of the septa between the pockets. The gelatinous promi- 

 nences causing the convexity of the pockets are particularly evident in such 

 individuals. Xo trace of any canal system was visible. 



In none of the specimens could the gonads be seen, on account of their 

 fragmentary condition. 



This species must lie an exceedingly fragile one, since most of the speci- 

 mens semi to have undergone their injuries in the net, even when taken on 

 the surface. In several cases the marginal zone is split along the lines of 

 the peroniae, exactly as in many of the specimens from the Gulf Stream, 

 which Fewki 9 ('86, '89") has described. 



I' is probable that the presenl specimens are identical with S. incisa 

 1 He, it is true, placed this species in Solmaris on the assumption 



thai it had no gastric pockets, and Maas ('93) has accepted this identifica- 



