In Figs. 70-73 we have the Acalephian and Hydroid stages of the Clytia
(Fig. 73), another very pretty little Jelly-fish, closely allied to
the Oceania. When first hatched, like the Oceania, it is very convex,
almost thimble-shaped (see Fig. 70), but a little later the disk
flattens and becomes more open, as in Fig. 71. In Fig. 72, we have a
branch of the Hydroid, a Campanularia, greatly magnified, with the
annulated reproductive calycle attached to it, and crowded with
Jelly-fishes ready to make their escape as soon as the calycle bursts.
The adult Clytia (Fig. 73) is somewhat smaller and more active than
the Oceania, and is easily recognized by the black base of its
tentacles, at their point of juncture with the margin of the disk. It
is more commonly found at night, than in the day-time, being nocturnal
in its habits.
[Illustration: Fig. 70. Young Clytia just escaped from the
reproductive calycle.]
[Illustration: Fig. 71. Clytia somewhat older than Fig. 70.]
[Illustration: Fig. 72. Magnified portion of Hydrarium of Clytia.]
[Illustration: Fig. 73. Adult Clytia; twice natural size.]
_Zygodactyla_. (_Zygodactyla groenlandica_ AG.)
Little has been known, and still less published, of this remarkable
genus of Jelly-fish (Figs. 74, 75) up to the present time. The name
Zygodactyla, or Twinfinger, was given to it by Brandt, from drawings
made by Mertens, who had some opportunity of studying it in his
journey around the world. These drawings were published in the
Transactions of the St. Petersburg Academy. In the year 1848 Professor
Agassiz read a paper upon one of the species of this genus belonging
to our coast, before the American Academy, in which he called it
Rhacostoma, not being aware that it had already received a name, and
gave some account of its extraordinary phosphorescent properties. The
name Rhacostoma must of course yield to that of Zygodactyla, which has
a prior claim.
[Illustration: Fig. 74. Zygodactyla seen from above.]
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