﻿230 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



ages; shorter, flattened, ribbonlike appendages; and pointed, 

 spindle-shaped or wedge-shaped appendages, the largest of which 

 is usually terminal. 



The scapulets are about 65 mm. long and 45 mm. wide at the 

 base, their upper and outer surfaces bearing numerous mouths, 

 among which are many long, filamentous appendages. The 

 scapulets are branched along either side, and are deeply bifurcated 

 at the outer end. 



Each interostial pillar contains a main duct which enters the 

 outer end of one of the 4 stomach lobes and is formed by the 

 union of the main ducts of the 2 mouth arms arising from the same 

 pillar. The main ducts of the 2 arms unite somewhat beyond 

 the scapulets, and the main duct formed by their union receives 

 on each side a duct formed by the union of the ducts of the two 

 scapulets of that side. The main duct of each mouth arm re- 

 ceives a number of smaller ducts from the inner surface of the 

 mouth arm and a very large duct from each of the 3 outer wings 

 of the distal portion of the arm. 



The color in both preserved and living specimens is opaque 

 white. 



This medusa was very common in Taytay Bay, Palawan, during 

 May, 1913. Nearly every specimen examined contained one or 

 more living individuals of a species of a crab, Charibdis {Gonion- 

 emus) crucifera (Fabr.) M. Edwards. These crabs were con- 

 siderably paler than is typical for the species, which would seem 

 to indicate a somewhat extensive residence within the medusa. I 

 have also seen the medusa accompanied by large numbers of small 

 fish apparently belonging to the genus Caranx. In some instances, 

 these fish were seen to be eating the medusa, but in all such cases 

 the medusa was dead. When the medusa was alive, they seemed 

 to maintain a commensal relation. The fish would be seen play- 

 ing about among the mouth arms and appendages and on being 

 alarmed would disappear under the edge of the bell, between the 

 arms or in the subgenital porticus. A similar condition was found 

 in the case of Lobonema mayeri. I am told that R. visayana 

 which is closely related to the common edible medusa of Japan, R. 

 esculenta Kishinouye, is used for food by the inhabitants of the 

 east coast of Leyte where it is preserved in vinegar. As it is 

 apparently a common form in the Visayas (hence the name), 

 there is no reason why it should not form a staple article of food. 



It is very closely related to R. hispid itm Maas, but differs from 

 it in having a distinct pigmental area in the sense organ, in 

 having its mouth arms united for more than two-thirds of their 

 length, and in having 3 wartlike papillae in the mouth of the 

 subgenital ostia. 



