ACALEPH.E. 51 



stated, that they are preyed upon by the glass-like 

 creatures; and it is probably with a view to greater 

 security that they prefer the stinging species, with its 

 eight branches of long tentacula, and large fringed 

 ovaries, to Cyanea aurita, with its single and 

 frequently short row of delicate appendages. What 

 then, Mr Peach asks, becomes of the paralysing 

 influence of the tentacula of this Medusa on fishes ? 

 This, he thinks, opens a new field for observation. He 

 believes, too, that the facts which he has observed, if 

 not conclusive against, at least throw considerable 

 doubt on the fish-eating propensities ascribed to the 

 Medusae ; for he is convinced that in these instances 

 the fishes resorted to the Medusae as to protectors, 

 and not enemies. In no instance did he observe a 

 fish in the stomach of the Medusae, but all were free 

 to depart when they pleased. 



" In an instance subsequently recorded in his 

 journal, Mr Peach states that a small Whiting, which 

 was gliding round a small weak Cyanea aurita, was 

 attacked by a young Pollack, or Baddock, whose 

 movements it easily evaded by dodging round the 

 Medusae; a second Baddock, however, soon joined in 

 the pursuit but both were for some time baffled, 

 until an unlucky move drove the Whiting from its 

 poor shelter, and then a severe chase took place. 

 The pursuers were joined by others, who followed 

 like a pack of hounds, until the Whiting became 

 exhausted, and was left by its enemies who were 

 unable to swallow it to all appearance dead. In 



