Unpublished paper, 'Preliminary observations on the locomotion system of Medusae' by G J [George John] Romanes

Description

Romanes explains that the movements of some of the Medusae (e. g. Sarsia) appear to be as voluntary as are those of insects. Some of the discophorous species of naked-eyed Medusae, when threatened with injury, manifest peculiar movements, which are quite distinct from the ordinary locomotor contractions. These movements consist in a very strong and protracted systole, followed by a slow and gradual diastole. This spasm-like series of movements is never performed by any Medusa except when the animal is being injured or threatened with injury.

Annotations in ink throughout. Preceded by a covering letter dated 6 February 1875.

Subject: Zoology

Received 1 November 1875. Read 16 December 1875. Communicated by T H [Thomas Henry] Huxley.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 24 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as ‘Preliminary observations on the locomotor system of medusæ’.

Reference number

AP/57/2

Earliest possible date

1875

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

7 pages

Format

Manuscript