Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/84

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56
Insects.

moving a tumbler-full from the bucket and taking it to the light, a number of Cyclopes were accordingly found swimming and darting about in it.

"May 30. Lat. 3° 35' S. long. 27° 18' W. At times to-night the brilliancy of the water was sufficient to illuminate the whole stern of the ship and driver, and almost intense enough to throw a shadow. Occasionally a streak of luminous water was observed, running a long way out to windward; and then a whole host of bright balls were seen in the space cut by the ship, wheeling and careering along, and being mixed up with innumerable smaller spots, gave out such a bright light that it almost dazzled the eye to look steadily upon it."—Private Journal, H.C.S. Berwickshire.

The bright large balls or globes described above were no doubt Medusae, and the smaller spots Entomostraca. These latter were very abundant, but, from their minute size they were difficult to be observed; and being very delicate and short-lived, were generally found dead and partially decomposed in the morning, if the water in which they were taken had been kept all night. The most common belong to the family Cyclopidae, several new species of which T succeeded in placing in the microscope, a description of these I here append.[1]

Genus.—Cyclopsina, Edwards.

Cyclopsina Arietis. Calanus Arietis, Templeton, Trans. Ent. Soc. i. 195, t. 21, fig. 9. Of an ovate form. First pair of antenna? long, many-jointed, and furnished with numerous setae; the two last joints having each a long and strong bristle rising from the under surface, directed downwards and finely ciliated or plumose; the last joint has in addition to its long setae, two short ones springing from its upper surface, directed upwards and not plumose: second pair of antennae short, stout, divided into two branches of one joint each, terminated by rather long setae. The body consists of five articulations, the last having a lobe on each side projecting beyond the articulation. Tail much shorter than the body, the last joint being bifurcated, each division giving out four or five moderately long filaments, which are beautifully and finely plumose. The abdominal legs are four pairs, beset closely with short spines on each side, and furnished with numerous long hairs or setæ.

This species is described by Mr. Templeton in the 'Transactions of the Entomological Society.' He takes notice of the ciliated or plu-

  1. These insects belong to the order Copepodes of Edwards: Lophyropa, Latreille: and to the family Cyclopidæ: Monocles of Edwards: Carcinoidæ of Latreille.