30 JELL Y-FISHES. 



parency, are almost as imperceptible as the Infusoria themselves. 

 All, however, are not equally minute : some grow to a large size, 

 and various forms of these are familiar to the inhabitants of every 

 beach, upon which, when cast up by the waves, they lie, like 

 masses of jelly, melting, as it were, in the sun, exhibiting but few 

 traces of that elaborate structure which more careful examination 

 discovers them to possess. Their uncouth appearance has gained 

 for them various appellations by which they are generally known, 

 as Sea-jelly, Sea-blubber, or Jelly-fishes ; whilst, from disagreeable 



FIG. ^3. JELLY-FISH. 



sensations produced by handling most of them, they have been 

 called Sea-nettles, Stingers or Stangcrs. Their faculty of sting- 

 ing is, indeed, the most prominent feature they exhibit, so that 

 their names in almost all languages are derived from this cir- 

 cumstance. They were known to the older naturalists by the 

 title of Urticcs marina, and the scientific appellation whereby 

 they are generally designated is of similar import. The forms of 

 these gelatinous creatures cannot well be distinguished when thus 

 cast up by the waves ; but if we look over the side of a ship at 

 anchor, or take an excursion in a boat, we shall see many float- 

 ing freely in their own element, and displaying all the elegance 

 and beauty of their structure. The species most commonly met 

 with assume the form of a mushroom, or umbrella-shaped disk, 

 composed of transparent jelly. They move by alternately ex- 

 panding and contracting their bodies, and swim with their upper 

 surface directed forwards, while their fringes and tentacles follow 

 behind, " like streamers long and gay." 



The Long-tailed Stinger (Cyanca* capillata] of our seas is a most formidable 



, kuancos, dark. 



