a 
Medusa, the Chief of the Gorgons: It is in summer, when the 
sun shines brightly and the sea is calm, that we see most of our 
friend the jelly fish. They leave the deep water and come to the 
shore in immense numbers, and their visits do not increase the 
joys of timid bathers. No doubt many different kinds honour us 
with. their company, though it may be we have not taken any 
particular notice of them. They are indeed curious things, made 
up of a little jelly and a good deal of water, but still rather highly 
organized. They sail along by expanding and contracting the 
umbrella, as the convex body is called, and moving the hanging 
“stalks” and tentacles (illustration). But most noteworthy of all 
is the fact that many members of the great medusa family cannot 
be called independent organisms, as they are budded off from the 
stems of certain hydroids. 
The meduse are probably the most numerous of all marine 
animal-, Immense numbers. of them are microscopic, and these 
tiny creatures play a very important part in the phosphorescence of 
the ocean. Probably few, if any, marine animals excite so much 
interest and wonder as the Sea Anemones. They are, indeed, curious 
things, but there seems no reason why they should be called 
anemones. The expanded tentacles are sure to make us think of 
the vegetable kingdom, but there is much more likeness to a com- 
pound flower than to an anemone. The polype now under notice 
though one of the hollowbodied animals is, less simple in structure 
than many of them. The student may, perhaps, without being 
ealled hard names by anti-vivisectionists, see for himself what the 
inside of an anemone is like by simply cutting the creature into 
two or more pieces. What the views of the polype may be we 
eannot tell, but of its marvellous powers there is no doubt, as a 
mutilated body can readily repair itself, and even a small detach d 
_ part can reproduce the larger missing portion. The commonest 
Species of sea anemone cannot be called handsome, for it is not. 
gaily coloured like many of its brethren It is very beautiful on 
our coast where it is found on the rocks and in the sand, I¢ 
Fejoices in the name of Actinia mesembry-anthemum. — Actinia 
crassicormis, with its thick tentacles, is a much more handsome 
species, and not uncommon all along our coast It has graced 
many an aquarium, to the delight of wondering spectators, and not 
being a great traveller, has not seemed to object to limited quarters. 
It can go a long time without food, but still it devours in very 
. determined fashion any food it may chance to get. The tentacles 
grasp the prey very firmly and drag it into the accommodating 
_ mouth. The writer hoped that his hearers would turn to some of 
the books, and increase their knowledge of the curious and wonder- 
ful polypes, the sea anemones.. wes 
