50 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAKIUM. 



Acalephae, that these had been devoured by them as 

 regular prey. Mr Peach, as will be seen from the 

 following extract, which we copy from Mr Gosse's 

 " Tenby," delivers the Medusae from the charge of 

 voracity so long ascribed to them : 



" Mr Peach's observations were made at Peterhead 

 in the beginning of August; at which time Cyanea 

 (aurelia) aurita and Cyanea capillata were so abun- 

 dant in the harbour and bay, as occasionally very 

 much to inconvenience the fishermen, and render it 

 difficult to lift the oars, especially of small boats, 

 from amongst them. Round these Medusae very 

 small fishes were observed playing sometimes sport- 

 ing round C. aurita, and quitting it on a sudden for 

 C. inscripta. When an enemy came near occasionally 

 two or three might be seen attending one of the 

 Cyaneae, and when attacked or alarmed, rushing under 

 its umbrella, and among the tentacula, so as to 

 shelter themselves in the large folds connected with 

 the ova, where they remained until the danger had 

 passed, and then emerged again to sport and play 

 around their sheltering friend. When under the 

 umbrella seeking shelter, they lay so close as to allow 

 themselves to be taken into a bucket with the 

 Medusae from beneath which, after a short time, 

 they would come out and gambol, as while in the sea. 

 In this way Mr Peach captured many young Whitings, 

 measuring from less than an inch to two and a-half 

 inches in length. It was evident that they resorted 

 to the Medusae for protection and not, as sometimes 



