Browne — Fauna and Flora of Valencia JB^arboiir, Ireland. 707 



The Medusa usually occurs in the spring, reaches maturity in 

 April, and disappears early in the summer. Apparently it is 

 not a common species at Valencia. 

 Ijar sabellarum, Gosse. 



Zar sabellarum, Allman, 1872; Hincks, 1872, p. 313, pi. xix. ; 

 Browne, 1896, P. Z. S., p. 468, pi. xvi., and 1897, p. 818, 

 Woodcuts, 1-9. 

 Willsia stellata, Porhes, 1848, p. 19, pi. i. 



This Medusa is liberated from the Hydroid Zar saiellarum, 

 which has been recorded from only two localities — Ilfracombe 

 (Hincks) and Plymouth (E. T. B.). The Hydroid colony forms 

 a fringe round the tube of a Sabella ; it is very minute, and, 

 unless specially searched for, may be easily overlooked. The 

 Medusa has been frequently recorded from several British 

 localities, and is not uncommon in the summer. 



At Valencia the Medusa was one of the common objects in 

 the tow-net ; it was nearly always present, but never in any 

 great numbers. The youngest stage (with six tentacles, 1 mm. 

 in diameter) was the most plentiful, only occasionally absent. 

 It was taken every month, from July, 1896, to November, 

 1897, but was very scarce during the winter. Its presence in 

 winter time is not conclusive evidence that the Hydroid 

 liberates Medusae all the year round. They may have been 

 budded off late in the autumn, and remained at the first stage 

 Tintil the following spring. 



The second stage (with twelve tentacles, umbrella about 

 2 mm. in diameter) has not been seen in the winter ; it first 

 appears in April. 



The third stage (with eighteen tentacles, about 3 mm. in 

 diameter) comes on in May. 



The adult stage (with twenty-four tentacles, about 4-5 mm- 

 in diameter) appears in July and remains until November. 



To judge from the number of early stages taken, the principal 

 period for the liberation of the Medusas from the Hydi'oid is 

 during the spring and summer. 



Xizzia blondina, Porbes. 



Zizzia hlondina, Porbes, 1848, p. 67, pi. xii. ; Browne, 1896, 

 P.Z. S., p. 475. 



In 1895, six specimens were taken at the end of May. 

 In 1897, two specimens found on June 9th. 



