AURELIA. 



127 



The bulk of the colony is made up of coenosarc, which contains a great 

 number of nodular calcareous spicules. These give a tough consistency 

 to the colony. 



The colonial habit is found largely amongst the order Hexactinia^ 

 to which Actinia belongs, but the arrangement of the mesenteries and 

 the feathered tentacles are characteristic of the order Octadinia. 



v.— AURELIA. 



Phylum 



Class 



Sub-Class 



CCELENTERATA. 



SCYPHOZOA. 



SCYPHOMEDUS^. 



Fig. 59. — AURELIA AURITA. 



Lateral view. About one-third natural size. 



Aurelia aurita is a large medusa or "jelly-fish" about 

 the size and shape of a large saucer. It may be found 

 swimming in the sea in any numbers during late summer or 

 early autumn, supporting itself by rhythmic contractions of 



