THE MEDUSA. 147 
were nearly a yard in length. The young fellow, overwhelmed 
by a feeling of burning pain, cried out for help. He had scarcely 
strength to reach the ship, and to climb on board again. The pain 
and inflammation were so great that brain fever set in, and great 
fears were entertained of his safety. 
The Diphyde of Cuvier, the Physophore of Forskal, and the 
_ Apolemie of Lesson propel themselves. by natatory organs. Phe 
Diphyde are always found in pairs—two different individuals 
invariably go together, but the union between them is very 
DIPHYDA. 
different from that which joined Philemon and Baucis: one of the 
individuals is enclosed in a cavity in the other. The enclosed one 
forms a kind of chaplet in the interior of the other. These creatures 
are gelatinous, ovoid, pyramidal, and sometimes in the form of a 
mushroom. They can be separated without mutilation, and pre- 
served alive; but if one of them be isolated, it is evident that 
it is in an unnatural state, and soon perishes. Some naturalists 
look upon them as male and female, joined together indissolu- 
bly ; a wonderful destiny consigning them to a life-long embrace! 
Love is but an episode in the life of most animals, but it fills the 
entire existence of the diphyde. 
2 
