THE ACALEPHA. 



675 



put forth fresh rays, and after a time be transmuted into two perfect 

 Star-fishes. 



The movements of the Star-fish are extremely graceful, the creature 

 gliding onward with a beautifully smooth and regular motion. It al- 

 ways manages to accommodate itself to the surface over which it is 

 passing, never bridging over even a slight depression, but following ex- 

 actly all the inequalities of the ground. It can also pass through a 

 very narrow opening, and does so by pushing one ray in front and then 

 folding the others back, so that they may afibrd no obstacle to the pas- 

 sage. It also has an odd habit of pressing the points of its rays upon 

 the bottom of the sea and raising itself in the middle, so as to resemble 

 a five-legged stool. 



ACALEPHA. 



We now arrive at a large and important class of animals. These 

 beings are scientifically termed Acalepha — a word which may freely 

 be rendered as " sea-nettles." The term is appropriate to many of the 

 species which compose this large class, for a very great number of the 

 Acalepha are possessed of certain poisoned weapons which pierce the 

 skin and irritate the nerves as if they were veritable stinging-nettles 

 floating about in the sea. Popularly they are known by the familiar 

 term Jelly-fishes, because their structure is so gelatinous, mostly clear 

 and transparent, but sometimes semi-opaque or colored with most beau- 

 tiful tints. 



In the illustration may be seen a remarkable creature called by the 

 popular name of the Sallee Man, sometimes corrupted, in nautical 

 fashion, into Sallyman. In 

 this curious animal the body 

 is membranous, oval, and very 

 flat, and may at once be recog- 

 nized by the cartilaginous crest 

 which rises obliquely from its 

 upper surface. 



The Velella is very widely 

 distributed, and is found in 

 every sea except those that 

 are subject to the cold influ- 

 ences of the poles. It seldom ^ ^^ zTr, ;; ; ■ \ 

 , 111.. 1 Sallee Man (Velella indyans). 

 approaches land, but may be 



met in vast numbers, sometimes being crowded together in large masses 

 and of various sizes. 



The celebrated Portuguese Man-of-w^ar is a beautiful but most 

 formidable acaleph. It is found in all the tropical seas, and never 

 fails to attract the attention of those who see it for the first time. The 



