Browne — Fauna and Flora of Valencia Harbour, Ireland. 713 



intermediate stages (smallest 5 mm. in length.) were taken in 

 the tow-net, and many iine large specimens caught swimming 

 at the surface in a cove close to Doulus Head on May 21st. 

 These large specimens showed considerable variation in the 

 shape of the umbrella and in coloration. The apex or crown 

 of the umbrella had five distinct shapes, ranging from a long 

 narrow-pointed process, like a spike on the top of a helmet, 

 to a large globe- shaped mass of jelly ; the intermediate forms 

 making connecting links between the extremes. 



The coloiu' of the stomach and tentacular bulbs in most of 

 the specimens was reddish brown, in a few bright crimson, and 

 in others a pale translucent brown, which is the usual colour of 

 the younger stages. The largest specimens measui'ed 20-28 mm- 

 in length ; one possessessed 38 tentacles. 



In 1896, during my visit in the summer, a few speci- 

 mens were taken in August. All belonged to the intermediate 

 stages; the largest measured 10 mm. in length, and had 8 

 tentacles and 8 adradial bulbs. 



In 1897, it first appeared in April and disappeared in October ; 

 abundant throughout the summer. The earliest stage, with two 

 tentacles, was taken in April and October. Early in October 

 some large specimens were taken, and measui'ed 35-45 mm. 

 in length and 20 mm. in width ; also young stages about 5 mm. 

 in length, and intermediate stages up to 20 mm. 



In 1898, it appeared in March and disappeared early in 

 N'ovember. It was not nearly so abundant as in 1897. Large 

 specimens were again taken in October and early in I^ovember. 



Hartlaub (1895) succeeded in rearing in an aquarium the 

 Medusae liberated from the Hydroid Perigonimus repens (in a 

 later publication, 1897, the Hydroid name is changed to P. 

 vestitus, Allman) to a stage sufficiently advanced to show its 

 connection with the early free-swimming stages of Tiara pileata. 

 Since then I also have reared Medusae liberated from Feri- 

 gonimus at the Plymouth Laboratory, and am able to confii'm 

 Hartlaub' s observations. 



There is a di:fference of opinion with regard to the names 

 to be used for Medusae liberated from Hydroids. At present 

 there are two distinct systems of classification in use, one for 

 the Hydroid forms, the other for the Medusae. So long as the 

 Medusa remains attached to its Hydroid it receives the Hydroid 

 name ; but directly it swims away on its own career it usually 



