274 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



SPECIES I. 



MEDUSA O V I F O R M A, 



OR 



EGG-SHAPED MEDUSA. 



Represented the natural size. An extremely sensitive 

 animal ; when touched, or indeed when the vessel in which 

 it is contained is moved, it shrinks into an irregular globular 

 mass. It is divided into eight segments, by as many rows 

 of finny fringes. These, though only perceptible by their 

 iridescence when in motion, are capable of moving the 

 animal through the water. Its colour is greyish-white, but 

 reddish (pale lake red) in the longitudinal cavity. Is found 

 in the Spitzbergen Sea. 



SPECIES II. 



MEDUSA CUCUMIS, 



OR 



APPLE-SHAPED MEDUSAE. 



Oblong, with eight ciliate ribs, iridescent fringes, with a 

 single cavity. It is found in Spitzbergen and Greenland 

 Seas ; moves very slowly by means of the fibres on the 

 ribs, and, when touched, it contracts into the form of an 

 apple. The body is white mixed with blue, and covered 

 with irregular red spots. 



