THE MEDUSZ. 149 
of Nice. Here the two lobes which have no sex are supposed to 
be natatory vessels common to the colony, and intended to support 
them in the water. The pyriform bodies are the individuals of this 
floating republic. The males are orange and the females yellow. 
It seems probable that many of the diphyde which have been 
captured are mutilated, that is, deprived of some of their fila- 
ments, and are, consequently, incomplete. 
The Physophore possess numerous lobes. 
The Physophora disticha is one of the prettiest and most 
delicate of the class. The creature is composed of a slender vertical 
PHYSOPHORA DISTICHA. 
axis, terminating in an oblong transparent bladder, mamillated 
underneath. On each side of this axis are three appendages of a 
saffron yellow colour, not unlike the flower of the fox-glove. From 
the lower extremity of the axis hang thirty tentacles, composing 
a perfect pendant bouquet. These tentacles are of a somewhat 
cartilaginous substance, semi-transparent; they are rose-coloured, 
shading off to white at the extremity, where they terminate in a 
sucker. A capillary, or hollow filament of bright purple, runs 
over their surface in a zigzag. Is this association perfect, or 
ought it to have long suspended filaments, like the Gadeolaria ? 
In the Afolemia the lobes are still more numerous. The A/o- 
lemia contorta unites the most graceful form with the most delicate 
tissue of a wonderful transparence. As it floats it looks like a 
bright red plume formed of these lobes. This peculiar creature 
has been accurately described by Milne Edwards and C. Vogt ; 
