Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiologyBerger, E. W. (Edward William)
Science
Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiology
Berger, E. W. (Edward William)
Cubomedusae
_Activity of Charybdea._--41. a. About five o’clock in the morning
a Charybdea was taken in the tow. It was in good condition swimming
incessantly round and round without change of direction, in a jar of
about twenty centimeters in diameter. It came to the surface every now
and then, after eight to fifteen pulsations. The tentacles and the
phacelli were of a lilac shade. If a pencil was placed in its way it
would pulsate against it repeatedly without any effort to dodge around it.
6.58 A. M., 124 pulsations were counted to the minute.
8.00 “ 124 “ “ “ “ “
9.25 “ 136 “ “ “ “ “
10.15 “ 131 “ “ “ “ “
11.00 “ 146 “ “ “ “ “
At 10.15 it went around the dish in eight seconds, taking eighteen or
nineteen pulsations. If a bright platinum spatula or a black pencil was
placed in its circuit it would repeatedly butt against it each time it
came around. After the second or third pulsation against it, however, it
seemed to have some sense to change its direction.
b. The _pedalia_ have no perceptible action of their own. They move
inwards slightly toward the axis at each pulsation, but scarcely as much
as one would suppose from their attachment to the pulsating margin. It
seems as if they were for “winging” the moving animal more than for
anything else.
c. The _velarium_ is loose and it flaps. It seems to take part in
swimming something more than the passive diaphragm function,--i. e., it
straightens out during the recovery after each contraction of the bell.
AURELIA AND POLYCLONIA.
[The following experiments were performed at Port Henderson, Jamaica, in
1896.]
42. May 12th. An _Aurelia_ was pulsating normally at the rate of
twenty-five or twenty-six pulsations to the half-minute. One lithocyst
was cut out, when a few contractions, evidently caused by the stimulus
of cutting, followed; then, rest. In the first minute there were only
about five pulsations. In two or three minutes rhythmic pulsations were
resumed. Four minutes after the cutting there were nineteen pulsations
to the half-minute. About twenty minutes after there were nine to the
half-minute, in groups of six and three.
A _Polyclonia_, about four and one-half inches (115 mm.) in diameter,
gave twenty-six or twenty-seven regular pulsations to the half-minute.
After one otocyst was removed, pulsations continued, but in groups with
intervals of pause: _e. g._, thirteen, pause; ten, pause; six. Three
minutes after the removal of the lithocyst there were 5, 3, 1, 3, 5,
or seventeen pulsations to the half-minute. Eleven minutes after the
operation there were fifteen to the half-minute. The removed lithocyst
and surrounding tissue gave contractions.
43. May 13th. The _Aurelia_ was in rather poor condition but would
pulsate upon being stirred. The other seven lithocysts were removed when
only a few contractions originated thereafter.
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