76 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
swimming organs were attached ; and at various intervals throughout its length the 
polypiform zooids were fixed, often in little assemblages of threes and fours, each 
covered at its base by a foliolum—the rudiment of the disk in the ordinary mono 
gastric medusae. Within the mouth, when contracted, ciliary motion was very ap¬ 
parent, and at the base a simple tiliary apparatus appeared. The polyps were found 
in various stages of gemmation. Ova, in clusters, were seen pullulating from the 
common tube, and spermatic sacs were also observed, but only after their detach¬ 
ment. From the base of the polyp proceeded a long, highly retractile thread, or 
fishing-line, with secondary branches, the extremities of which were thrown into 
short spirals of three or four coils, immediately before terminating. These threads 
often exceeded in length the whole Stephanomia, and were capable of being thrown 
into the most beautiful and graceful convolutions—now bent at right angles, and 
again thrown out in a series of light, airy-looking arches. 
The spirals in the live Stephanomia were just visible to the naked eye, and were 
of a dark sherry colour, owing to the presence of pigment in the cells. 
The minute structure of these spirals was then alluded to. 
Oval sacks of stinging filaments attached by spirally coiled peduncles were found 
after the animal had broken itself up ; but their relations could not be determined. 
( Vide Plate vi., Fig. 4). 
After other details, the accordance of the facts observed with the views of Huxley 
and others as to the nature of these compound organisms were pointed out. 
But one perfect specimen was taken (another a good deal mutilated occurred), and 
the weather had been for some time hot and sultry; the sea was quite calm at the time. - 
It lived in a large globe of salt-water for several days, and was a most striking and 
beautiful object; it generally lay quite upright in the water, the slightest ripple upon 
the surface of which set it in motion ; and immediately coiling up its fishing-lines, 
and shortening the length of its stolon by about one-third, it threw its set of little 
balloons into strong pulsations, until, weary of descending, it submitted to be guided 
by its brightly glittering head, and soon ascended to the surface. When subjected 
to examination it soon died, and was not long until it had completely broken itself 
up. In company with my friend, Mr. Wright, I spent several hours in examining 
it; but its minute details would require the examination of many more specimens 
ere I could give anything like a clear account of them. I trust the energy of Mr. 
Green will yet cause him to discover other specimens, when I will be enabled to 
complete my dissections. 
For an account of the second Acalephe (vide Plate vii., Fig. 2), I am indebted to 
the kindness of George Hyndman, Esq., of Belfast. It was taken by Edmund 
Getty, Esq., on the 15th August, 1841, floating in great numbers on the surface of 
the sea (in Belfast-Bay) during a calm, with warm sunshine. Their long tentacula 
were extended horizontally on or near the surface, having the appearance of strings 
of beads. Four or five living individuals jjwere brought to Mr. Hyndman, all of 
which remained suspended by the upper vesicle, occasionally extending their tenta¬ 
cula, and suddenly drawing them up. The body of the animal was of a grayish 
colour, with spots of reddish brown on the central tubular portion and on the top 
of the air-vesicle. The knobs on the tentacula were of a yellow colour. After one 
night’s captivity in a glass vase, all the specimens but one were dead, and sunk to 
the bottom. The remaining one continued alive for two days. This animal was 
named by Mr. Thompson, Agalma Gettyana, after its discoverer. The specimen 
as figured wants, for the most part, the swimming organs ; but these were, doubt¬ 
less, rubbed off. In July, 1852, a great many of this species were found floating 
in Belfast Bay ; but the current was so strong that Mr. Hyndman was unable to 
get any without being injured. I hope that further investigation may yet enable 
our Irish naturalists to clear up many doubtful points in the history of Acalephe. 
In conclusion, Dr. Melville stated that in his opinion these two medusas were 
specifically identical. 
Alter some remarks from the President, suggesting various objects of research for 
the members of the association during the long vacation, the members adjourned 
until Michaelmas Term. W. R. T. 
