Corals, Sea-anemones, and Jelly-fishes 



763 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [JT 



A GIANT ANEMONE FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. 



From 18 inches to 2 feet in diameter when expanded. Bright apple-green in 

 colour, and with almost spherical bead-like tentacles. 



The larger number of the jelly- 

 fishes are, as a matter of fact, 

 transitional phases only of the fixed 

 hydroid polyps previously referred to. 

 In certain instances the body of the 

 fixed polyp becomes elongated, and 

 splits up horizontally into a series 

 of jelly-fishes, or medusas, resembling 

 a pile of saucers, which consecutively 

 break away and lead a free-roving 

 existence. In other forms a com- 

 pound tree-like growth gives birth 

 to medusa-like buds, like the flowers 

 on a plant, which ultimately become 

 detached and swim away. What 

 are known as the COMB-BEARING 

 JELLY-FISHES their locomotive organs 

 consisting of comb-like bands of 

 vibratile hairs are especially note- 

 worthy. In some of these the body 

 is nearly spherical or ovate, one of 

 the species, in reference to its shape, 

 being popularly known as the SEA- 

 LEMON. A notable feature of these medusas is their remarkable glass-like transparency, their 



presence in the water in many 



instances being recognisable only 



by the prismatic glimmerings of 



their rows of vibratile hairs when 



the light falls upon them at a 



favourable angle. The most remark- 

 able member of this particular group 



is undoubtedly the form known as 



VENUS'S GIRDLE. This species takes 



the form of a long, ribbon-like band 



of transparent jelly. The edges of 



the ribbon are clothed with vibratile 



hairs, and the mouth is situated in 



the centre of one of the edges. The 



animal progresses by the action of 



its hairs alone, or may be assisted 



by the twistings and undulations of 



its ribbon-like body. 



Many jelly-fishes possess an un- 

 enviable reputation with reference 



to their stinging properties. The 



so-called PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR is 



one of the more noteworthy of these. 



The organism consists of an ovately 



pointed air-bladder, which floats on 



the Water, and from which depend 



numerous nutritive polyps and a mass 



of capturing-filaments, or tentacles. 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S."] 



A GIANT SEA-ANEMONE. 



[Milford-on-Sea. 



Measures, when opened, IS inches in diameter. Is almost always associated with 

 companion or " commensal " fish and crabs of brilliant colour. The fish cruise round 

 in search of food, but always return to shelter among the anemone's tentacles. Photo- 

 graph taken through the water. 



