THE CYDIPPE. 167 



subsequently each part swims about, until the last 

 change takes place, and mature medusae appear. 



" We see," says professor Owen, " that a medusa 

 may actually be generated three successive times, 

 and by as many distinct modes of generation by 

 fertile ova, by gemmation, and by spontaneous 

 fission before attaining its mature condition." 



And yet what is the actual substance of a creature 

 endowed with all these powers ? Were the reader, 

 on his next visit to the coast, to take with him one 

 weighing five or six pounds, in a vessel, and to set 

 it aside, what would he discover when a few hours 

 had elapsed ? The animal he deposited in the vessel ? 

 Certainly not. All the solid matter left is a mem- 

 branous cellular film, weighing only a few grains, 

 and the fluid drained away is not to be distin- 

 guished, by the most accomplished chemist, from 

 common sea-water. And yet, when these were com- 

 bined, and instinct with the mysterious power of life, 

 there was the medusa, bearing its simple but con- 

 clusive testimony to the perfections of the Infinite ! 

 Other creatures may be described as trans- 

 parent bodies, differing in size, but, in general, 

 about as large as a boy's marble. Externally they 

 exhibit ridges like those of a melon, and are in form 

 not unlike an orange or an apple, from which cir- 

 cumstance they take their specific name.* They 

 move by means of vibratile cilia, which extend 

 from the upper to the lower extremity of the body. 



* Cydippe pomiformis. 



