90 SOME WONDERS OP THE SEA. 



aid respiration, and that the animal used its respiratory 

 apparatus for the purpose of locomotion. Hence these 

 creatures were called Pulmogrades, i.e. moving by means 

 of lungs. The movements, however, are so slow, and 

 the force exerted is so slight, that the animal is unable 

 to stem the feeblest current, and even the largest speci- 

 mens may be seen borne along by the tide without the 

 slightest attempt to shape a course of their own. 



Some few years ago I was much struck with this 

 fact. 



I was standing at the end of Southend pier, watching 

 the tide come in. It is an admirable spot for such pur- 

 pose, as it is a full mile from the shore, and the spectator 

 can see everything that floats in the water beneath him. 

 On that particular day, it was just after half tide, and 

 in consequence all the animal life came from the sea. 

 The water was full of Jelly Fishes, especially those of the 

 Rhizostoma genus, many of which were so large that 

 they seemed to have journeyed from the tropics. 



Despite their size, however, and their apparently 

 powerful pulsation, the largest of them were rolled along 

 by the flowing tide as helplessly as the smallest, and not 

 one of them shoAved the least symptom of intellect 

 enough to determine upon any definite course, or ability 

 to pursue it. A few hours later, when the tide was on 

 the ebb, I returned to the same spot, and there saw the 

 Jelly Fishes borne back with the tide, just as helpless to 

 stay their progress to the sea as they had been to prevent 

 their journey up the river. 



