Ocean Flowers and Lamps 



certainly, than the minute specks of life de- 

 scribed in past chapters ; higher than Fora- 

 minifers ; higher than Sponges ; but lower than 

 Sea-urchins and Starfishes ; very much lower 

 than Worms and Oysters. 



They vary immensely in size, ranging from 

 minute jelly-bags, without limbs or heads, mouths 

 or stomachs, to great masses of jelly-like sub- 

 stance, with eyes and mouths and powerful 

 stinging apparatus. 



All these are included in the circle of near 

 relatives to the " Medusae," which name was first 

 bestowed upon the anemones from a supposed 

 likeness between the snaky tresses of the myth- 

 ological Medusa and the tentacles of these soft- 

 bodied animals. 



" Ocean-flowers," many of them may truly 

 be called, since they live and grow, rooted like 

 a plant to one spot ; since also they put forth 

 veritable buds and blossoms. Only they are 

 in nature not vegetable, but animal. Many 

 of these ocean blooms are exquisitely beautiful ; 

 but they may not always be gathered with 

 impunity. 



" Ocean-lamps," too, many may with truth 

 be named. Large numbers of the coral -polyps, 

 large numbers of the hydroids, and perhaps 



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