740 



THE PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR. 



In this curious animal the body is membranous, oval, and very flat, and may be at 

 once recognized by the cartilaginous crest which rises obliquely from its upper surface, 

 and the numerous tubercles which depend from its lower surf ace and surround the mouth. 

 This cartilaginous substance marks out the Sallee Man as possessing a somewhat higher 

 organization than its merely gelatinous relatives, and it is therefore placed at the head 

 of its order. 



The Velella is seldom seen on our own coasts, although it sometimes happens to be 



driven, by stress of wind and 

 waves, to regions more chilly 

 than those in which it entered 

 the world. It is thought with 

 justice that the upright cartilage 

 can act the part of a sail, and, by 

 means of its diagonal setting, 

 drive the creature through the 

 sea. The exact direction of its 

 movements is in all probability 

 decided by the numerous tenta- 

 cles which hang from its lower 

 surface, and which, by contrac- 

 tion or extension, can become 

 living rudders. 



The Velella is very widely 

 distributed, and is found in 

 every sea except those that are 

 subject to the cold influences of 

 the poles. It seldom ap- 

 proaches land, but may be met 

 in vast numbers, sometimes 

 being crowded together in large 

 masses, and of various sizes. 



There is an allied genus 

 called RATARIA, in which the 

 body is circular, and the row of 

 tentacles round the mouth is 

 single. The body is sustained 

 by a flattened elevated cartilagi- 

 nous plate, and possesses also a 

 longitudinal crest above, muscu- 

 lar and movable. 



The internal cartilage of the 

 Velelledae are sometimes found 

 strewn in great numbers on the 

 surface of the water. Sailors be- 

 lieve that the delicate substance 

 of the creature has been de- 

 stroyed by the hot sunbeams, 

 but naturalists have now ascer 

 tained that the true cause of 



their destruction is to be found in the sea-lizard (Glaucus\ which feeds upon these 

 curious inhabitants of the ocean, and devours the whole body with the exception of 

 the firm cartilaginous plates. 



THE upper figure represents the celebrated PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR. 

 This beautiful but most formidable acaleph is found in all the tropical seas, and 

 never fails to attract the attention of those who see it for the first time. The general 

 e of this remarkable being is a bubble-like envelope filled with air, upon which 



PORTUGUESE MAN-OP-WAR. Phfsall* pelagfcus. 

 VENUS' GIRDLE. SALLEE MAN. 



Centum Venerls. Velella vulgarls. 



