ACALEPH^l. 49 



I grasped, as it was carried past by the tide, what I 

 thought was a rare and beautiful algae, but I very 

 speedily let go my prize. Major Martin, who was 

 alongside of me, next grasped it as it passed him, but 

 in a moment dashed it back into the sea. We looked 

 at each other, and, notwithstanding the smarting of 

 our fingers, laughed on finding that we had both 

 greedily ' caught a Tartar.' " 



It is only after a great storm, when thousands of 

 these creatures are left stranded on the shore, that we 

 are able to form some estimate of the vast numbers 

 of them that inhabit the sea. It is then that we are 

 led to ask what purpose they serve in the^ economy 

 of nature. - The humblest student of natural history 

 is soon taught to discard the vulgar idea that for 

 great ends great agents must be used. Accordingly, 

 he does not find any objection to the Medusse being 

 concerned in the maintenance of important laws, 

 from their delicacy and fragility. Some of their uses ' 

 are now well known. In the first place, they serve, 

 like many other animals, as food for beings larger 

 than themselves. They form, for instance, favourite 

 articles of food to the Greenland and other species of 

 Whale. They also exude a slimy mucus, which 

 serves as suitable nourishment to the .young of less 

 formidable prey. But the most curious function 

 they discharge is their acting as protectors to various 

 small species of fish. This observation was first 

 made by Mr Peach. Formerly it was believed, from 

 the number of little fish found in the stomachs of the 



