Remarks on a species of Beroe. 4#3 



nally from one end of the animal to the other. About half 

 a dozen circular lines constricted the sac slightly at regular 

 intervals. 



About two hours after their capture, the yellowish central 

 mass began partially to evacuate itself gradually through 

 the open extremity, and a few hours afterwards the double 

 row of yellowish points began to disengage itself, and escape 

 through the same opening. It immediately began to move 

 about with a lively vermicular motion, the whole mass 

 moving as one body. A few hours afterwards it began to 

 separate, and it became evident, that the double row was 

 merely an aggregate of independent globules. In a few 

 hours more, the globules had all separated from each other, 

 and increasing rapidly in size, resembling the parent animal 

 in every respect, the tentacula alone not being developed, 

 and the size of the young animal being only about a sixth 

 of that of the old. In less than thirty-six hours after their 

 capture all the Acalephae died. 



I examined about eight of these Acalephse, and in all, the 

 same process took place. It is difficult to say what the 

 object of the previous partial evacuation of the yellow cen- 

 tral body could be. It was also difficult to determine in how 

 far the powers of the parent animals were impaired by the 

 act of reproduction, as the whole mass died so soon. They 

 certainly moved about with less vigour. The young animals 

 must have developed themselves very rapidly, for when the 

 double row of globules was at first examined with a pretty 

 powerful magnifying glass, it was impossible to discover their 

 structure. The animal showed no trace of phosphorescence, 

 and did not possess any stinging power. 



Description of the figures ; 2, Plate xi., a. the animal as it appeared 

 when caught, with its circular transverse bands, d. the lower end with the 

 aperture, e e the tentacula of the upper end, b. the animal after the 

 evacuation of the double row of globules, c. the young animal. 



