CORALS, SEA- ANEMONES, AND JELLY-FISHES 365 



Ph,:, in If. SavilU-Kim, F.Z.S.^ [.l;../.rj.»„-6'<a 



A GIANT ANEMONE FROM THE GREAT 

 BARRIER REEF 



From jS inches cc 2 feet :n dtair.eter ivhen evpanJeJ, B'i^lu aftble-green in 

 colour, and ivith a/most spherical bead-like tentacles 



The larger number of the jell)-- 



fishcs are, as a matter of fact, 



transitional phases only of the fixed 



h\'droid poh'ps pre\-iousl\- referred to. 



In certain instances the body of the 



fixed polyp becomes elongated, and 



splits up horizontal!)' into a series 



of jell_\--fishes, or medusas, resembling 



a pile of saucers, which consecuti\el\- 



break away and lead a free-ro\ing 



existence. In other forms a com- 

 pound tree-like growth gi\-es birth 



to medusa-like buds, like the flowers 



on a plant, which ultimatel}- become 



detached and swim awa_\-. What 



are known as the CoMB-BEARiNc; 



JELLV-FISHES — their locomotive or- 

 gans consisting of comb-like bands of 



vibratile hairs — are especially note- 

 worthy. In some of these the bodj- 



is nearly spherical or o\ate, one of 



the species, in reference to its shape, 



being popularl}' known as the Sea- 



LEMO.V. A notable feature of these medusas is their remarkable glass-like transparency, their 



_ , presence in the water in many 



instances being recognisable only 

 by the prismatic glimmerings of 

 their rows of vibratile hairs when 

 the light falls upon them at a 

 faxourable angle. Tlie most remark- 

 able member of this particular group 

 is undoubtedly the form known as 

 Venus's Girdle. This species takes 

 the form of a long, ribbon-like band 

 of transparent jelly. The edges of 

 the ribbon are clothed with vibratile 

 hairs, and the mouth is situated ia 

 the centre of one of the edges. The 

 animal progresses by the action of 

 its hairs alone, or ma}- be assisted 

 by the twistings and undulations of 

 its ribbon-like body. 



Many jelly-fishes possess an un- 

 enviable reputation with reference 

 to their stinging properties. The so- 

 called PuRTUca'ESE Man-of-war is 

 one of the more noteworthy of these. 

 The organism consists of an ovately 

 pointed air-bladder, which floats on 

 the water, and from which depend 

 numerous nutritive polj-ps and a mass 

 of capturing-filaments, or tentacles. 



Wo(o ir if. SavilU-Ktnl, f.Z.i.] 



[Milford-on-Sta 



A GIANT SEA-ANEMONK 



illeasuresj luhen opened^ iS inches in diameter. Is almost alivays associated ivith 



companion or '* commensal'''* Jisk and crahs of brilliant colour. The 



ji%h cruise round in search of food ^ hut alivays return to 



skelter among the anemone* s tentacles. Photograph 



taken through the -water 



24 



