4!i4 ittt. E. ■i\ BBOWNB oir [Mar. 1 7, 



corresponds with the charanteristic features of the genus Laodice 

 in possessing filiform and club-shaped cirri between the tentacles, 

 and in the absence of marginal vesicles. 



The other species of the genus Laodice (L. mediterranea, 

 Gegenbaur, L. calcarata, Agassiz, and L. idothrix, Haeckel) appear 

 to differ so slightly from one another, that I am inclined to regard 

 them as one species. 



The species which have been vaguely described by the early 

 naturalists had better remain provisionally under the name of 

 Laodice cruciaia (Forskal). I think for the present, until more is 

 known about the genus, that Thaumantiaa mediten-anea had better 

 be regarded as a distinct species — Laodice mediterranea (Gegen- 

 baur), — and Cosmetira jyunctata as a synonym of it. 



I do not intend publishing a description of the Valencia Laodice 

 until I have collected more specimens, which may then throw 

 some light upon the other species. 



Tarn. EucopiDjE. 



EucHiLOTA piLOSBLLA (Eorbes). (Plate XVI. figs. 7 & 7a.) 



Thaumantias pilosella, Forbes (1848); Gosse (1853). 



Laodice pilosella, Agassiz (18G2). 



Laodice stauroyhjplm, Agassiz (1862). 



Laodice crudata, Garstang (1894). 



Forbes has given a fairly couii}lete description of this species, 

 omitting only the marginal vesicles. These important organs 

 were apparently not considered by Forbes of any importance in 

 the specific description of a medusa. Gosse found this medusa 

 very abundant at Ilfracombe, and described it again under the 

 name Thaumantias pilosella, with eight marginal vesic-les. 



At Valencia, during April and May, I found four specimens of 

 a medusa which is identical with the Thaumantias pilosella of 

 Forbes and Gosse. 



Forbes in his description of the species states : — " The umbrella, 

 which sometimes measures nearly two inches in diameter, but 

 more usually one, or one and a quarter, is hemispheric, and 

 shaped like a watch-glass, but much more convex. It is trans- 

 parent and smooth, except on the sides towards the margin, where 

 it is as if woolly, being invested with minute epidermic hairs 

 composed of fibrous cells. These, though sufficiently conspicuous, 

 may escape the observer who is not aware of their presence, in 

 consequence of their transparency. 



" The margin is fringed by very numerous (100) extensile (but 

 usually borne rather short), pale pinkish tentacula, with bulbous 

 bases. The bulbs are ocellated, with dense crescentic masses of 

 purple pigment-cells. When the margin is much magnified, it is 

 Been to be bordered by a narrow band or thread of fibrous cells, 

 from which the tentacles spring, and between each pair there are 

 six or seven short, fine, secondary tentacles, without ocelli at their 

 bases . .. The sub-umbrella is depressed, and on its surface run the 



