JELLY-FISHES. 317 



radiation towards the margin, when we see them slip 

 into the marginal canal from the several openings of the 

 radiating canals. 



This is a very simple and rudimentary blood-system. 

 There is here no heart with its pulsations, no proper 

 arteries or veins, no lungs for oxygenation; but the pro- 

 ducts of digestion are themselves thus circulated through 

 the system. And this brings me back to the central point, 

 whence you see depending the curious organ I spoke of. 

 A long cylinder of highly movable and evidently sensitive 

 flesh hangs down from the middle of the roof exactly like 

 the clapper of a bell ; and, as if to add to the resem- 

 blance, this same clapper is suspended by a narrow cord, 

 and is terminated by a knob. 



Sometimes this whole organ is allowed to hang about 

 as low as the edge of the bell; then it gradually lengthens 

 to twice, thrice, nay, to five times that length ; the tongue 

 lolling out of the mouth to a most uncouth distance, and 

 even the suspending cord (as I presume to term the at- 

 tenuated basal portion) reaching far beyond the margin ; 

 then, on a sudden, like the tentacles, the tongue is con- 

 tracted, thrown into wrinkles, curled into curves, and 

 the whole is sheltered within the concavity ; presently, 

 however, to loll out again. 



This proboscis-like organ is called the peduncle, and its 

 office is that of a stomach, of which the knob at the end 

 is the mouth, having a terminal orifice with four minute 

 lips. The flexible substance and rapid motions of this 

 peduncle are suited to enable it to seize small passing 

 animals that constitute its prey ; and I have seen the 

 Sarsia in confinement seize with the mouth, and swallow, 

 a newly-hatched fish, notwithstanding the activity of the 

 latter. For hours afterwards, the little green-eyed fry was 

 visible, the engulfment being a very slow process ; but the 

 Medusa never let go its hold ; and gradually the tiny fish 

 was sucked into the interior, and passed up the cavity of 



