19.0 MB. a. J. EOMANES ON SOME KEW SPECIES, 



An Account of some new Species, Varieties, and Monstrous 

 Forms of Medusae. — II. By Geobge J. Eomanes, M.A., 

 F.L.S., &c. 



[Read January 18, 1877.] 



(Plates XV. & XVI.) 



In my previous communication on this subject (Journ. Linn, 

 Soc, Zool. vol. xii. pp. 525-531) I omitted to give any drawings 

 of the new species of Medusae which I described. On the pre- 

 sent occasion, therefore, I supply this omission by representing 

 in Plate XV. such of the previously described Medusae as are 

 undoubtedly entitled to rank as new species. These are the three 

 species of the genus Tiaropsis, viz. those represented in figs. 1, 3, 

 and 4. The Plate also contains figures of the two species of Thau- 

 mantias (figs. 2 and 5) which I happened to meet with last sum- 

 mer. There can be no doubt that these are true species ; and for 

 them I propose the name T. crucifera and T. helicohostrycha* . 



Proceeding now to describe the monstrous forms of Medusae 

 which have this year fallen within my observation, I have, in the 

 first place, to reiterate the surprise which I expressed in my pre- 

 vious paper at the extreme rarity of such forms — so far, at least, 

 as the naked-eyed group are concerned. Looking to the lowly 

 type of organization which the Medusae present, remembering 

 how prone these animals are to exhibit the phenomenon of gem- 

 mation, and considering that even in much higher animals so- 

 called " vegetative reproduction of similar parts " is a process of 

 comparatively frequent occurrence, considering these points, I 

 think we should be prepared to expect the Medusae to present us 

 with numerous examples of monstrous or misshapen formSc Yet 

 so far is this from being the case that this year, as last year, I have 

 only met with one solitary instance of departure from the normal 

 type among the many thousands of naked-eyed Medusae which I 

 observed. This instance again occurred in the genus Sarsia ; but, 

 unlike the monstrosity described in my former paper,in which there 

 were six complete segments, in the present instance there were 



* In my former paper I assigned to a probably new species the name £ou- 

 gainvillea fruticosa. Having since ascertained that this name had already been 

 apj)ropriated by Prof. AUman to designate another species of the same genus, I 

 will now substitute for it the name B. AUmanii. 



