68 LIZZIA BLONDINA. 



Stomach very short ; mouth bordered by four tentaculiform lips, which do not bifurcate, but 

 terminate with simple, gland-like, black-spotted, conical extremities. The motions of this 

 very distinct species are jerking, and its habits, except in being soUtary, like those of its 

 congener. 



Plate XII, fig. 4, a and h, represents the Lh%ia Mondina much magnified, seen in 

 profile and from above; 4, c and d, are similar views of the peduncle, tentacula, and 

 gemmules ; 4, e, is one of the larger fascicles of tentacula, with the compound bulb from 

 which they spring; 4,/, the appearance of a portion of one of the tentacles, greatly 

 magnified. 



I have met, both on our southern and northern coasts, with several little Medusae in an 

 immature state, presenting the essential characters of Lizna, and evidently distinct from 

 either of the preceding, but have abstained from describing or figuring them as species until 

 they shall have been observed in an adult condition. I do this the more willingly, as it would 

 seem that the intermediate stage of several hydroid zoophytes appears to be similar to, if 

 not identical with, this genus. Thus the Medusa state of the Eudendrium ramosum, figured 

 by Van Beneden in the 'Memoirs of the Brussels Academy' (vol. xvii, pi. 4, figs. 10-13), is 

 closely related to both Bougainvillea and Lh%ia, nor is the Medusa produced by Tuhularia 

 far removed. Sir John Dalyell has recognised this afiinity of forms, in his account of the 

 probable Medusa of Tuhularia, under the name of Medusa ocilia, and his comparison of it 

 with a Bougainvillea (apparently B. Britannica), denominated by him Medusa duodecilia. 

 His description is so interesting, and bears so importantly on the history of the Li%%ia and its 

 allies, that I venture to extract it from his most valuable and beautiful work ' On Remarkable 

 Animals of Scotland,' in the hopes of attracting the attentive observer to a subject evidently 

 prolific in future discoveries : — 



" Medusa ocilia. Minute pyriform bodies, as above specified, are dispersed on the stalk 

 of different parts of the Tuhularia at considerable intervals ; sometimes three are together, 

 sometimes two are opposite to each other, or only one terminates a twig, where it might be 

 readily supposed a regenerating hydra. Each pyrulum is affixed by its own distinct pedicle, 

 at first of some length, but gradually shortening as the remainder becomes more globular, or 

 fiattens. In a few days, the whole may be compared .to the opening bud of a white rose. 



" Now the dilatation and collapse of the subject commence ; convulsive struggles ensue ; 

 four pair of long, rough, muricate organs resembling tentacula, or ciliary processes, are 

 gradually unfolded, and after what seems repeated, severe, and protracted exertions, a perfect 

 animal of great transparence is liberated as a Medusa, suspended amidst the waters. 



" This Medusa resembles a large transverse section of an ovoid, not half a line in diameter, 

 the sides of excessive tenuity, the tentacula, or ciUary organs, four or five times as long as the 

 diameter of the ovoid, and quite flexible. I conjectured there might be an orifice in the upper 

 surface, and that some stump or particular organization by which it was penetrated, and 

 remaining behind, the animal, amidst its struggles, was kept in its place. It is the upper 

 surface which is that in application or adhesion, as may be seen of others ; the lower portion 

 whence the ciha originate, is meantime free. Here, as we know, the mouth or proboscis of 

 the Medusarian race is situated. In the under surface, four cruciform organs were apparent. 

 But the difficulty of ascertaining relative position is never to be forgot ; and, in fact, organs 

 apparently below, in such creatures may be in the middle, or actually above. 



