4h Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



CRASPEDOTiE. 



ANTHOMEDUSiE. 



Family CODONID^ 



Sarsia princeps (Haeckel). 



PI. I, Fig. 1. 



Codonium princeps Haeckel, 1879, p. 13, pi. 1, fig. 3. For synonymy, see Mayer, 1910, p. 60. 



Eleven species of this large, easily recognized, and characteristically arctic 

 species were taken at CoUinson point, Arctic Alaska, from September 19 to 

 October 14, 1913 (stations 27m, 27n, 27r, 28&), below the sea ice, which had 

 already formed, by that season, to a thickness of 8-10 inches, the temperature 

 of the water, below the ice, 29°-30° F. Also one excellent specimen, about 

 18 mm. high, from cape Smyth, point Barrow, Alaska, station 57a, August 8, 1916. 



Except for the geographical records, discussed below (p. 16h), these excellent 

 specimens, ranging in height from 11-19 mm., add nothing to the previous 

 accounts of this species (Haeckel, 1879, Bigelow, 19096). A figure of their general 

 appearance is given, however, to aid students of the Arctic Medusse in identifi- 

 cation. And it is worth noting that in this species, as in S. mirabilis, the man- 

 ubrium is extremely extensible (PI. I, fig. 1). For, as Mr. Johansen states in 

 his field notes, it "can protrude its long, slender stomach to three times the 

 body length, the four tentacles to five times the body length." 



Briefly capitulated, the characteristics of the species are its large size, 

 long, slender manubrium, the jagged margin of the narrow radial canals, the 

 distinct basal tentacular bulbs, usually (but apparently not always) with con- 

 spicuous oceUi on their outer faces ; and especially the well-developed apical 

 canal, projecting, aborally, into the substance of the bell, from the point of 

 junction of the four radial canals with the base of the manubrium. 



Of these characters the most variable (except for the length of the manu- 

 brium, which is largfely dependent on the state of contraction of the specimen) 

 is the waviness of the margins of the canals. Something of this sort is usually 

 to be seen. But in the present series there are various gradations, independent of 

 the size of the specimens in question, from canals distinctly toothed and jagged 

 to others but slightly wavy. And it is not unlikely that specimens may occur 

 in which their margins are perfectly smooth. 



Colour: The value of the series is much enhanced by a beautiful coloured 

 drawing of a specimen from station 27?- by Mr. Frits Johansen, naturalist on 

 the expedition, which shows the entodermal core of the manubrium of a violet 

 tint, radial canals and tentacles pale pink, and the ocelli carmine. 



Sarsia flamtnea Linko. 

 Plate II, Fig. 6. 

 Sarsia flammea Liako, 1905; p. 212. For synonymy, see Hartlaub, 1907, p. 12. 



Two specimens, about 19 mm. high, Collinson point, stations 27r and 286 , 

 October 2 and 14, 1913, when Mr. Johansen notes the species as common 

 under the sea-ice. Two specimens, about 8 mm. high, station 57a, Cape Smyth, 

 point Barrow, Alaska, August 8, 1916. 



The most characteristic feature of this species, a negative one, is the absence 

 of ocelli. And this, coupled with its short manubrium, short, stout tentacles 

 with large basal bulbs, absence of apical canal, and large size, make it easy to 

 recognize. The present series adds nothing to the good account by Hartlaub 

 i 1907), with which they closely agree. 



