860 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
swimming near the surface in calm weather, and again descending 
on the approach of a squall. Like them also, their delicate 
structures rapidly disappear when removed from the sea-water 
and exposed to the rays of the sun, an almost imperceptible 
film remaining the only trace of what was erewhile an active 
and beautiful organism. Yet in spite of their aqueous consistence 
the Ctenophora are very voracious, feeding on a number of 
Various forms of Ctenophora. 
4. Cestvm Veneris. 6b. Eurhamphea vexilligera. c. Beroé rufescens. d. Callianira triploptera. 
e. Plenrobrachia pileus. (a is considerably reduced; 6 slightly so; ¢ and e are about the 
natural size; the size of d is uncertain.) 
floating marine animals, among which their own kindred seem 
especially to be preferred. The prey once swallowed is assi- 
milated with a rapidity which to some may seem strange when 
the simple structure of the digestive apparatus is considered. 
The land has its flowers; they bloom in our gardens, they 
adorn our meadows, they perfume the skirts of the forest, they 
brave the winds that blow round the high mountain peaks, 
they conceal themselves in the clefts of rocks, or spring forth 
