MODE OF CATCHING JELLY-FISHES. 



87 



Fig. 123. 



tlio Aurelise, especially, with their large white d^ks, look like 

 pale phantoms wandering about far below the surface ; but they 

 constantly float upward, and if not too far out of reach, one may 

 bring them up by stirring the water under them with the end of 

 the oar. 



When we have passed an hour or so floating about just 

 beyond East Point, and have nearly 

 filled our buckets with Jelly-fishes of 

 all sizes and descriptions, we turn 

 and row homeward. The buckets 

 look very pretty as they stand in the 

 bottom of the boat with the sun- 

 shine lighting up their living con- 

 tents. The Idyia glitters and spar- 

 kles with ever-changing hues, the 

 Pleurobrachiae dart about, trailing 

 their long graceful tentacles after 

 them, the golden Melicerta are kept 

 in constant motion by their quick, 

 sudden contractions, and the deli- 

 cate transparent Tima floats among 

 them all, not the less beautiful be- 

 cause so colorless. There is an un- 

 fortunate Idyia, who, by some mis- 

 take, has got into the wrong bucket 

 with the larger Jelly-fish, where a Zy- 

 godactyla has entangled it among his tentacles and is quietly 

 breakfasting upon it. 



During our row the tide has been rising, and as we near the 

 channel of Saunders's Ledge, it is running through more strongly 

 than before, and at the entrance of the shallows a pleasant sur- 

 prise is prepared for us ; no less than half a dozen of our new 

 friends (the Ptychogena as he has been baptized), come to look 

 for their lost companion perhaps, await us there, and are pres- 

 ently added to our spoils. We reach the shore heavily laden 

 with the fruits of our morning's excursion. 



The most interesting part of the work for the naturalist is 



FLg. 123. Ovary of Ptychogena 5 magnified. 



