28 EDWARD T. BROWNE. 
ELEUTHERIA HODGSONI. 
(Plate III., figs. 1-4.) 
Description of the Species—Umbrella rudimentary, and reduced to a nearly flat 
circular disc, 1°5 to 2 mm. in diameter. Velum very broad, covering the whole of 
the under side of the umbrella. Stomach conical, partly projecting through the 
aperture of the velum. Mouth small and circular. Radial canals eight in number 
and very short. Gonads surrounding the stomach. Tentacles twenty to thirty-two, 
each of which is bifurcated close to the basal end; the upper arm bears five to six 
pairs of lateral clusters of nematocysts and a terminal cluster; the lower arm, 
without clusters of nematocysts, terminates in an adhesive disc, or sucker. On the 
under side of the basal portion of the tentacles is situated a thick pad of nematocysts, 
and on the upper side, close to the ex-umbrella, a conspicuous reddish-brown ocellus 
is present. 
The ‘ Discovery ’ collection contains six well-preserved specimens of this interesting 
Medusa. They were taken on 20th February, 1902, ten days after the ship had taken 
up her position for the winter, and a month before she was frozen in. 
The youngest specimen of the series is about 1 mm. in diameter, with the gonads 
just visible. It has eleven radial canals, and nineteen tentacles in various stages of 
development, seven of which are tiny buds. The other specimens are much older and 
approach nearer to the adult stage. : 
Notes on the Specimens.—The umbrella is rudimentary in the sense that it has 
completely lost its function as a swimming organ owing to the almost complete dis- 
appearance of the umbrellar cavity. A reduction in the length of the umbrella has 
taken place, and this gives it the appearance of its being flattened out. The velum is 
very broad and covers the whole of the lower side of the umbrella, and its aperture fits 
tight round the conical stomach. In nearly all the specimens the velum is close 
against the sub-umbrella, and in this position it is not at once recognised. The largest 
specimen has its velum more expanded and curved outwards, so that a space is clearly 
visible between the velum and the wall of the sub-umbrella. This space represents the 
umbrellar cavity, and is, I believe, used as a brood pouch for the development of the 
ova up to the planula stage. 
The stomach has the shape of an inverted cone, and when expanded projects 
through the aperture of the velum. At the apex of the cone is a small circular mouth. 
The radial canals (fig. 2) are variable in number. Three specimens have eight canals, 
and three specimens have six, ten, and eleven canals respectively. The canals are very 
short, extending from the base of the stomach, across the top of the sub-umbrella, to 
the circular canal. According to Mr. Vallentin, the Falkland species has four radial canals. 
The gonads form a continuous ring round the stomach and are extended into 
seven or eight swellings. Sections of one specimen show that each swelling contains a 
large ovum, which is absorbing the small surrounding germinal cells. There are no 
