Pelagia in Manx Waters

Abstract

THE occurrence of the scyphomedusan Pelagia near Plymouth referred to recently in Nature1 reminds one that early in October of 1899 the genus invaded Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man, in astonishing numbers. It was a truly remarkable spectacle. The sea looked as if converted into a solid mass of the jelly-fish. The species had not been reported in Manx waters before, nor has it been seen there since. They appeared suddenly, remained for a short time, and as suddenly disappeared. When the record was posted to the late E. T. Browne, he was at first very sceptical as to our identification; but an examination of some actual specimens enabled him to recognize the animal as Pelagia perla. He assumed that its presence in Manx waters was due to “a northerly current bringing down animals through the north channel from the Atlantic shores of Ireland and Scotland”. Two of the specimens are preserved in the Zoology Museum, University of Reading. It may be added that on August 10, 1903, a large shoal of Pelagia appeared in Valencia Harbour, along with a huge drift of Salpas on which the pelagias were feeding2.