ITS MODE OF TAKING PREY. 371 



progression of the fish upward ; the surface of the 

 furbelow, with its closely adhering plaits and pucker- 

 ings, being moved over the fish, with an uniform 

 gliding, like that of the foot of a mollusk over the 

 surface on which it is crawling. The crustacean larvae 

 already spoken of, like minute white specks scattered 

 about the furbelows, enabled me distinctly to mark 

 the advance of the fish, which proceeded at the rate 

 of about a line in a minute. The contractions of the 

 umbrella went on with the usual force and precision 

 during the whole time ; and as the fish was gradually 

 brought nearer to the umbrella, the furbelows acquired 

 the power to lift it from the bottom, and to suspend 

 it between them in a horizontal position. 



After two hours had elapsed from the first seizure, 

 the fish was brought to the mouth of the peduncle, 

 about half-an-inch above the separation of the furbe- 

 lows ; and where it remained, without any further per- 

 ceptible change, for a full hour. The head of the fish 

 alone was so much elevated as this, for the furbelow 

 at the tail had latterly ceased to act, while the other 

 had proceeded ; and consequently the fish had become 

 nearly perpendicular. Its head was closely embraced 

 by the lips of the peduncle, and the peduncle itself 

 was protruded in a remarkable manner, by the partial 

 inversion of the umbrella, the upper surface of which 

 was slightly concave, though the margin was bent 

 over, and continued its contractions. 



At length, after about an hour, the Medusa slowly 

 relinquished its prey, which fell again to the bottom. 

 To my surprise, however, I could not discover, on 

 examination, that the digestive efi'orts of the Chry- 



