SARSIA. 261 



at the upper part into a sort of foot-stalk, and at the 

 extremity enlarging into four fleshy, very protrusile, 

 lips, capable of seizing and sucking in an object much 

 larger than the diameter of the whole polypite. I have 

 seen a Sarsia, in confinement in a tank, lay hold of, 

 and swallow, a newly-hatched fish, notwithstanding the 

 activity of the latter. For hours afterwards the little 

 green-eyed fry was visible, the engulphment being a 

 very slow process ; the Medusa, however, never let go 

 its hold ; and gradually the tiny fish was sucked into the 

 interior, and passed up the cavity of the polypite, be- 

 coming more and more cloudy and indistinct, as diges- 

 tion in the stomach gradually dissolved its tissues. 



These little creatures are endowed with very effective 

 powers of locomotion. In the unbounded freedom of 

 their native sea, and in the limited dimensions of a glass 

 vase, they are alike sprightly. By rapid pump-like 

 contractions of their nedocalyx, they dart through the 

 water, and shoot round and round, almost with the 

 force and swiftness of a swimming fish. The summit 

 of the bell always goes foremost, whether the direction 

 of the movement be vertical, horizontal, or, as is most 

 commonly the case, oblique; and the tentacles, and 

 the long white polypite, drag behind in trailing lines. 

 Now and anon, the shooting is suddenly suspended, the 

 bell hangs over and remains awhile motionless, the 



