/ u 



2 THE MEDUSAE. 



family at once: — Cunissa duplicata Maas, as I have already stated (p. 57), 

 the number of gastric pockets and presence of otoporpae in this species are 

 good reasons for accepting Maas's original ('93) diagnosis of it as a Cunina 

 as correct. It is doubtful whether the species described by Forbes as Aegino- 

 dorus (Pol/jxenia) alderi was a craspedote at all ; and it is doubtful also 

 whether radial parts ever occur in the combination described for Aegbieta 

 Tiemispheriea Gegenbaur and Aee/ineta octonema Haeckel (eight tentacles 

 alternating with eight gastric pockets) ; at any rate, it seems certain that 

 these two names were given to larval forms, whose connections with the adult 

 cannot be determined. Finally, Aeginorhodus rosarius Haeckel ('79) must 

 be classed as a nomen nudum, since it has subsequently been rejected, as 

 unfounded, by Haeckel himself ('81). 



Aegina Eschscholtz, 1829. 



sens. em. Maas (: 04 c , : 05). 



(non. Aegina, Yanhoffen, : 07). 



Aeginidae with four tentacles and with eight (or sixteen) gastric pockets 

 in the adult. 



This genus, though long known, has seldom been recorded. I agree with 

 Maas (: 05) that the three new species instituted by Haeckel ('79), A. rhodina, 

 A. canariensis, and A. eschscholtzi, all from the Tropical Atlantic, are really but 

 one species, A. rhodina. Similarly, the two Pacific species described by Esch- 

 scholtz ('29), A. cilrca, and A. rosea, represent only a single species, A. rosea 

 having been based on an abnormal individual of A. citrea. The Atlantic and 

 Pacific forms are exceedingly close to each other; they present one of those 

 cases where it is difficult to decide whether it is best to regard them as distinct 

 species or merely as two geographic races of one species. Since, however, 

 tln> differences between the two, i. e. lobing of the gastric pockets, number 

 of otocysts, and color, an; constant, so far as known, I retain both names. 

 'I'd these two species must now be added a third, from the present collection, 

 • if which onl} a young stage was taken, and for which therefore no final 

 specific diagnosis can yel !"■ made. Ilaeckel's two genera, Cunarcha and 

 Solmundus, each with <>nr species, belong, according to the present classi- 

 ion, t'i A.egina. Cunarcha aeginoides is certainly an immature stage, 

 and Bince it was taken in the Canaries, and since, moreover, Ilaeckel's very 



