BKKOE. 



17: 



miles. The total number of* these animals dis- 

 persed over that space surpasses the utmost stretch 

 of the imagination. In these situations a cubic 

 foot of water, taken indiscriminately, was found by 

 Mr. Scoresby to contain above 100,000 of these 

 diminitive medusae. 



Belonging to the tribe of Medusariae is a singular 

 genus, denominated the Bero'e, (Fig. 82 and 83,) 



which is remarkable for its organs of progressive 

 motion. Its body is either globular, or oblong, and 

 it swims with its axis in a vertical position. Eight 

 longitudinal bands or ridges, which have been 

 sometimes compared to ribs, extend down its sides, 

 like those of a melon ; and along each of these is 

 attached a set of little membranes, extended hori- 

 zontally, and supported on radiating fibres ; so that 

 they bear a pretty exact resemblance to the fin of 

 a fish. Their action is not unlike that of the wings 

 of a bird ; for they are made to flap up and down, 

 striking the water vertically, and communicating 

 an ascending impulse to the body. This animal is 

 also provided with two very long and slender pro- 

 cesses, which come out from the sides of the body, 

 and from these a great number of still finer fila- 



VOL. I. 



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