STEPHANOMIA. 259 



hangs down in the water to the distance of six or seven 

 inches, the upper part of which is surrounded by a 

 number seven to ten of little clear transparent bells, 

 looking very much like the blossoms of our common 

 Arbutus, and crowded, like flowers with short footstalks, 

 on the stem. These swimming bells (nectocalyces) are 

 true organs of locomotion ; for by their contraction they 

 drive out the water contained in their cavities, and by 

 their combined impulse, all acting together, shoot the 

 whole creature forward. This action I will explain 

 more in detail presently. 



The long tube or common stem is very irritable, and 

 under stimulus is coiled up in a spiral, then gradualty 

 relaxed, and allowed to hang loosely down. Attached 

 to it throughout are the polypites, or stomach-mouths, 

 protected by leaf-like organs, which overlap them. 

 Numerous tentacles, too, of exceeding length and tenu- 

 ity, and throwing off branches, spring from the stem 

 throughout its length, all the extremities of each form- 

 ing tiny oval knobs of spiral coils, the whole capable of 

 being thrown into the most beautiful and graceful con- 

 volutions, now bent at right angles, and again thrown 

 out in a series of light airy-looking arches. 



The exquisitely beautiful specimen described was 

 taken in sultry weather, when the sea was perfectly 

 calm. " It lived in a large globe of sea- water for several 



