1896.] BRITISH HYDBOIDS AND MBDUSJE. 485 



four radiating vessels, with a long, linear, somewhat clavate ovary, 

 of a bright pink colour, commencing very near the centre, and 

 terminating close to the m;irgin in the course of each. The 

 stomach is very short, but wide, of a rose colour, and has four 

 lanceolate, fimbriated lips, bordered by a compact edging of 

 fibrous cells." 



Gosse's description differs slightly from that given by Forbes. 

 His specimens appear to belong to a younger stage, about three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter, and with about fifty tentacles. No 

 uiention, however, is made of the "minute epidermic hairs composed 

 of fibrous cells " near the margin of the umbrella. The following 

 is the description given by Gosse of the marginal vesicles : — 

 " Besides these organs (tentacles), the margin is furnished with 



others They consist of cells, usually more or less globose, 



each containing one or more spherical bodies of high refrpcting 

 power. Prof. Forbes has not noticed them in his description of 

 this species ; they are, however, large and peculiar : first in shape, 

 being semi-elliptical swellings of the substance of the marginal 

 canal, and secondly in the number of their spherules. The 

 spherules are arranged in a double crescentic row, those which 

 form the middle being generally larger than those at the 

 extremities. The capsules are eight in number, two in each 

 quadrant, nearly equally distributed ; but not holding any fixed 

 relation of position to the tentacles." 



The specimens which I took at Valencia have not only the cirri 

 on the margin of the ex-umbrella (=" minute epidermic hairs 

 composed of fibrous cells ") as described by Forbes, but also the 

 eight adradial marginal vesicles with numerous otoliths, as described 

 by Gosse. The other details of the species agree with the 

 description given by Forbes and Gosse. 



An early stage was taken at Valencia on May 4th. Umbrella 

 ' bell-shaped, 2 mm. in length and v^■idth. Four perradial and four 

 interradial tentacles ; and also eight adradial bulbs, from which 

 tentacles will develop in a later stage. A few cirri on the margin 

 between the tentacles and bulbs, but none on the edge of the ex- 

 umbrella. Eight marginal vesicles, each with 4 to 6 otoliths. 



The basal bulbs of the tentacles and the bulbs without tentacles 

 are alike in coloration. There is a yellowish centre nearly sur- 

 rounded by a deep purplish band, which does not meet on the 

 inner side of the bulb. 



A specimen was taken 15 mm. in width and 11 mm. in length. 



Apparently all the large watch-glass shaped medusas are in their 

 earliest stages bell-shaped, the umbrella being about as long as 

 wide. The umbrella gradually grows broader ; the tentacles at 

 the same time increase in number. 



A specimen was taken on April 23rd, at Valencia, with the 

 umbrella 20 mm. in diameter and shaped like a deep watch-glass. 

 The stomach short, and mouth with four fimbriated lips. On the 

 margin of the umbrella 28 large tentacles, and between every pair 

 a large bulb, the commencement of another large tentacle. 



