24 TURRIS NEGLECTA. 



The radiating vessels are four, and all simple. The margin of the umbrella is studded 

 with a close-set circle of tentacula, more than sixty in number (16x4+4), very contractile, 

 being sometimes elongated into hair-like filaments, and at others contracted into little knobs. 

 Each tentacle has a large bulbous base, the upper part of which bears a briUiant ocellus, 

 consisting of crimson pigment-cells, and there is another speck, probably the site of an otohtic 

 mass below. 



A very interesting account of this species, under the name of Cyanaa coccinea, was given 

 by Dr. J. F. Davis, in the seventh volume of the 'Annals of Natural History.' ''Amongst 

 the variety of animals," writes that gentleman, " which we had opportunities of seeing, 

 during our stay at this charming marine watering-place (Tenby), none afforded greater interest 

 than a small Medusa belonging to the genus Cyancsa, Cuvier Having been dis- 

 covered by Mrs. Davis, who had likewise the best opportunity of watching its motions during 

 several weeks that she kept it in a glass of sea-water at Tenby, and afterwards here (Bath), 

 whither it was conveyed in a phial of the same, and lived three weeks after its arrival, I will 

 state the history of this ' thing of hght and life' in her own words. ' One morning, while 

 pouring some sea-water into the vessel containing my Actinia, I observed two small objects, 

 which I took for the young of these animals, and as quickly as possible raised them in a spoon 

 out of the basin, and placed them in a tumbler of clean sea-water. They resembled tiny bell- 

 glasses. Four transverse rays were perceptible on their sides, and a minute red body, with 

 four white arms forming a cross, was suspended in the water. Around the edge of the bell 

 or disk appeared a delicate white fringe, which was lengthened or shortened at the pleasure 

 of the animal. The contraction was sometimes so great, as to give the fringe the appearance 

 of being knotted up to the edge of the bell or disk. It was highly interesting to watch their 

 movements in the water as they ascended from the bottom, the bell or disk contracting and 

 dilating alternately, until the animal arrived near the surface of the water. This motion was 

 particularly conspicuous at the edge of the disk, and the fringe or tentacula became shortened 

 as the animal rose in the water; but when they descended again the tentacula' lengthened, 

 sometimes to a great degree, after which the animals sunk gradually, and without any visible 

 effort. At the end of a fortnight one of my pets turned itself inside outwards, and remained 

 in this state for some time, when it died, and left only a few flocculent particles at the bottom 

 of the vessel. The other lived more than two months longer, and even bore a voyage to Bath 

 in a closed phial of sea-water, and remained active and vigorous during the space of three 

 weeks, when it likewise shrunk, died, and disappeared like the former, but without the previous 



eversion.' " 



Plate in, fig. 1, a, Turris neglecta, much, magnified ; 1, i, body seen from above, showing 

 the muscular bands alternating with the vessels; 1, c, proboscis and lips ; \,d, one of the 

 lips magnified ; 1, e, a group of tentacles ; 1, g", a tentacle with its bulb, showing the ocellus 

 and otolitic mass ; 1, h, portion of a tentacle highly magnified ; 1, «, ova; 1, /^, muscular 

 tissue. 



