THE (XELENTERATES 35 



fishes may be liberated in such multitudes that the upper 

 surface of the ocean for many miles may be closely packed 

 with them in numbers reaching far into the millions. In 

 these positions they are carried both by oceanic currents 

 and through the alternate expansion and contraction of the 

 bell, a movement resembling the partial closing and open- 

 ing of an umbrella. In the jelly-fish the contraction is 

 more vigorous and rapid than the opening in the velum or 

 veil (Fig. 18, b) which is so narrowed that the water in 

 the subumbrella space (a) is driven through it with con- 

 siderable force, which results in driving the body in the 

 opposite direction. 



The life of a jelly-fish is perhaps of short duration, last- 

 ing not more than a few hours in some species, up to two 

 or three weeks in others, but during that period they pro- 

 duce multitudes of eggs which develop into minute free- 

 swimming young. These settle down on some rock or sea- 

 weed, and soon develop a Hydra-like body which, after the 

 fashion described above, grows into another tree-like colony. 



36. Alternation of generations. It will be noticed that 

 the offspring of the jelly-fishes are not jelly-fishes, but stalked 

 colonies, and these latter forms give rise to jelly-fishes. 

 This is known as the alternation of generations, the jelly- 

 fish generation alternating with the colonial form. This 

 characteristic is of the greatest service in preventing the 

 extermination of the race. Were the stalked forms to 

 give rise directly to other stationary colonies, it is obvious 

 that before long all the available space in the immediate 

 locality would be filled. The food supply, always lim- 

 ited, would not suffice, and starvation of some or imper- 

 fect development of all would result ; but by means of the 

 free-swimming jelly-fish new colonies are established over 

 very extensive areas, and favorable situations are held 

 by all. 



37. More complex types. As mentioned above, there are 

 perhaps upward of a thousand species of Hydrozoa, all with 



