

744 



THE CHRYSAORA. 





affords an example of the typical genus, several species of which are found in our own 

 seas. In these pretty creatures the disc is rather more convex than in the preceding 

 genus ; the footstalk is very wide and expands into many lobes, with long and broad 



Budora uodulosa. 



Azquorea cyaaea. 



fringes ; and the tentacles are very slender and variable in numbes. 

 inhabits the South seas. 



The present species 



IN the accompanying illustration is given an example of a fine genus, several species 

 of which are inhabitants of the British seas. This creature belongs to the next tribe 

 of the order, wherein the eye-specks are covered by certain flaps, and the circulating 

 vessels united into a kind of network. This tribe is further divided into two families, 

 in the first of which, the true Medusae, solid food is received into a mouth, and in the 

 second, there is no mouth, but nourishment is absorbed through the ends of branching 

 vessels. 



The CHRYSAORA belongs to the first of these families, and may be recognized by the 

 long unfringed but furbelowed arms. A fine species belonging to this genus, Chry- 

 saora cyclonota, was kept for some time by Mr. Gosse, and has afforded many useful 

 hints to the students of Natural History. Experiments were made for the purpose of 

 ascertaining the method of obtaining food, and it was discovered that the furbelowed 

 arms as well as the tentacles are used for catching prey. A dead whitebait was first 

 given to the Medusa and after having been caught by the tentacles and furbelows, was 

 delivered to the former organs, the latter relinquishing their hold. Very gradually it 

 was shifted towards the mouth of the footstalk, and there held for about an hour, 

 when it was released and fell to the bottom of the vessel. 



Thinking that the fish might have been too large a morsel for the Medusa, the exper- 

 imenter next supplied the animal with a small piece of cooked meat. This was seized 

 as the fish had been, and during the course of the night was conveyed into one of the 

 four cavities of the footstalk. There it remained for about sixty hours, when it was re- 

 jected. On being examined it was found to be perfectly white, but not in the least decom- 

 posed, or having any putrescent smell. 



A curious change then took place. " After I had kept this Chrysaora for about a 

 week, its manners underwent a change. It no longer swam about freely in the water 

 by means of its pumping contractions, nor was its appearance that of an umbrella. It 

 began to turn itself inside out, and at length assumed this form permanently, its shape 

 being that of an elegant vase or cup, with the rim turned over, and the tentacles 

 depending loosely from it, the furbelows constituting a sort of foot. 



