HYDROZOA, SCYPHOZOA, ACTINOZOA, VERMES WHITELEGGE. 383 



In the above measurements, certain factors must be taken into 

 consideration. In living specimens stranded on the beach, or 

 examples kept for some time in confinement, the anterior crestless 

 portion of the pneumatophore is usually shorter than in healthy 

 floating individuals. In very sick, dead, or dried examples, it 

 generally attains to its normal proportions. 



The posterior and ventral lobes usually contract a little under 

 any circumstances, and are often much shorter in dried or pre- 

 served specimens than in life. 



With a little care it is possible to preserve the pneumatophore 

 in its natural shape. Specimens that are uninjured, and floating 

 on the sea, may be caught in a wide-mouthed bottle, or placed in a 

 vessel with a small quantity of sea-water. After a short time they 

 generally assume a restful or normal condition. A 10 per cent, 

 solution of formol will fix them without any perceptible change 

 taking place. When fixation is completed, sufficient sea-water 

 should be added to reduce the mixture to about one or two per 

 cent., in which fluid they may be kept for years without much 

 loss of form or colour. 



The pneumatophore may also be dried with little or no altera- 

 tion. I have succeeded in drying many specimens that have 

 retained their natural form. My method of proceedure is as fol- 

 lows : The specimen is floated into a wide-mouthed bottle; when 

 it has assumed its normal condition, it is plunged into the hot 

 dry sand on the beach ; then, as quickly as possible, the pneuma- 

 tophore is rubbed with dry sand until all the surface moisture is 

 absorbed ; the appendages are then removed, and the specimen 

 left in the sun ; when thoroughly dry it is placed in fresh water 

 to extract the salt, and afterwards again dried and placed in an 

 air-tight bottle. Specimens dried in this manner have retained 

 their shape for several years and exhibit no signs of deterioration 

 except in colour. 



CLASS SCYPHOZOA. 



Order DISCOMEDUSJE. 

 FAMILY AURELID^. 



AURELIA CLAUSA, LesSOU. 



Aurelia clansa, Lesson, Voy. de la Coquille, Zoo!., p. 119. 

 Four specimens of this species, were obtained in the lagoon. 



FAMILY POLYRHIZID^3. 



POLYRHIZA ORITHYIA, Haeckel. 



Polyrhiza orithyia, Haeckel, System der Medusen, p. 578. 



