816 MR. E. T. BEOW>-E ON BRITISH MEDUS.E. [NoV. 16, 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On British Medusae. By Edward T. Browne, B.A., 

 F.Z.S., Zoological Laboratory, University College, 

 London, 



[Eeceived June ]0, 1897.] 



(Plates XLVIII. & XLIX.) 



The present communication is in continuation of a previous 

 paper read before the Society in March 1896, and published in the 

 ' Proceedings ' for that year (P. Z. S. 1896, p. 459). 



DiPTJRENA HALTEEATA (Forbes). (Plate XLIX. figs, 2, 2 a, 2 b.) 



Slabberia halferata, Porbes (1848) ; Allman (1867), 



Dipurena halferata, Haeckel (1879) ; Browne (1896). 



I had the good fortune to capture a fine adult specimen of this 

 species in Valencia Harbour on the 27th of July, 1896. I had 

 occasionally taken young specimens, but never had seen the adult. 

 Before describing the specimen it is best to review the literature 

 relating to the species in order to make clear a most interesting 

 point. 



Porbes first found this species in August, 1836, in Mount's Bay, 

 Cornwall, where great numbers were taken, and he described the 

 species in his celebrated Monograph as follows : — " Umbrella 

 deeply campanulate, smooth, colourless ; sub-umbrella large, 

 divided into equal parts by four simple vessels, which open into 

 a circular marginal vessel. On the upper third of the sub- 

 umbrella are seen in the course of the vessels four linear ovaries 

 or reproductive glands, pointed at each end. The tentacula are 

 strong, four in number, and colourless, except at their bases and 

 tips. The bulbs at their bases are more or less triangular, 

 coloured above with bright verdigris-green, and across the centre 

 with a band of deep orange, below which, on the root as it were of 

 the tentacle, is seen a conspicuous and rather large jet-black ocellus. 

 The extremity of each tentacle is likewise swollen into a bulb, 

 which is of a rich orange hue. Prom the centre of the sub- 

 umbrella hangs a long and highly extensile peduncle or stomach, 

 capable of being contracted entirely within the general cavity, but 

 more usually elongated beyond the length of the tentacula. It is 

 of a denser tissue than the other parts, and terminates in a circular 

 orifice. The diameter of the disk does not exceed one-eighth of 

 an inch. The position and form of its ovaries indicate a relation- 

 ship with Thaumantias, whilst the peduncle is that of a,Sarsia. It 

 thus links together genera which, were it not for such a connecting 

 form, would seem to be far apart." 



In 1878 Haeckel captured a specimen at Jersey, which he 

 has described in his ' System der Medusen.' He states that the 

 generative cells are upon the manubrium in three spindle-shaped 

 masses, and he expresses an opinion that the " ovaries " described 



