OCEAOTA. 55 



consists of four, as do all the succeeding sets, and they are de- 

 veloped between the first and second. The fourth set comes in be- 

 tween the first and third ; the fifth between the third and second ; 

 the sixth between the first and fourth ; the seventh between the 

 fifth and second ; the eighth between the third and fourth ; the 

 ninth between the fifth and third. The ultimate number of ten- 

 tacles in the Oceania is thirty-two, or sometimes thirty-six, and the 

 cycles always in twos or multiples of two. But whatever be the 

 number included in the successive sets of tentacles, and the 

 unit for the first set ranges from two to forty-eight, the law in 

 different kinds of Jelly-fishes is always the same, the youngest 

 set always forming between the oldest preceding set. Thus the 

 fourth set comes in between the first and third, and the fifth be- 

 tween the second and third, the intervals occupied now by the 

 fourth set, being limited by the first set of tentacles on one side, 

 and by the third set on the other side, while the intervals occu- 

 pied by the fifth set are bounded by the second and third sets. 



The little spheres represented be- j,. ^^ 



twcen the tentacles on the mar- 

 gin of the disk, in Figs. 65-67, 

 are eye-specks, and these continue 

 to increase in number with age ; 

 in this the Oceania differs from 

 the Eucope, in which it will be 

 remembered there were but two 

 eye-specks in each quarter-seg- 

 ment of the disk throughout 

 life. Fig. 68 represents the adult 

 Oceania in full size, when it aver- 

 ages from an inch and a half to two 

 inches in diameter. It is slow and languid in its movements, 

 coming to the surface only in the hottest hours of the sum- 

 mer days ; at such times it basks in the sun, turning lazily 

 about, and dragging its tentacles after it with seeming effort. 

 Sometimes it remains for hours suspended in the water, not 

 moving even its tentacles, and offering a striking contrast to 

 its former great activity when young, and to the lively little 



Fig. 68. Adult Oceania ; natural size. 



