JELLY-FISHES. 321 



done with these. There is one that moves among the 

 rest like a bead of coral, the smallest of all, yet the 

 most brilliant. Here is another, and here another of the 

 same sort; which has been named by Professor Edward 

 Forbes, Turris neglecta, because naturalists before him 

 had neglected to notice it, just as we have been doing, 

 engrossed by its larger brethren. 



Beautiful as is this little gem ; it is not so large as a 

 dried pea, scarcely larger than a grain of hemp-seed. It 

 is described as " mitre-shaped ;" in other words, it is a tall 

 bell, with the margin slightly bent inwards, and the sides 

 a little constricted. The umbrella is thick, and, being- 

 very muscular, is not so translucent as those we have 

 been examining; hence it has a pellucid white appearance. 

 But through this shines its chief beauty; the peduncle 

 is very large, and globose at the upper or basal part, 

 which is usually, as here, of a pale scarlet or rich orange 

 hue. 



Imbedded in this orange-coloured flesh are seen many 

 points of a lovely rose-purple; which two colours blend- 

 ing together, and softened by their transmission through 

 the sub-pellucid umbrella, have a peculiar brilliancy. 

 But stay ! here I have one more advanced in age, which 

 will exhibit some peculiarities of interest in the economy 

 of these frail but charming creatures. 



In this specimen, which is somewhat larger than the 

 former, the margin of the umbrella is a little turned 

 back, displaying more clearly the peduncle with its 

 brilliant ovaries. These, too, are more turgid, and the 

 rosy points are seen projecting from their interior, and 

 some of them even ready to fall. And look ! here on 

 the bottom of the glass are lying half-a-dozen or more of 

 similar purple points, whose rich hue renders them plainly 

 discernible, after a slight searching, to the unassisted eye 

 I will collect one or two with a tube of glass, and 

 submit them to your examination under the microscope. 



Y 



