58 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



tunate who has recklessly ventured across the monster's 

 path too soon writhes in prickly torture. Every struggle 

 but binds the poisonous threads more firmly round his 

 body, and then there is no escape; for when the winder 

 of the fatal net finds his course impeded by the terrified 

 human wrestling in its coils, he, seeking no combat with 

 the mightier biped, casts loose his envenomed arms, 

 and swims away. The amputated weapons, severed 

 from their parent body, vent vengeance on the cause 

 of their destruction, and sting as fiercely as if their 

 original proprietor itself gave the word of attack*." 



Another remarkable property conferred upon the 

 Medusae is their power of shining in the dark with 

 a phosphorescent splendour, surpassing even that of 

 the Noctilucae, and from their superior size render- 

 ing the jelly-fishes conspicuous objects even amid the 

 galaxy of ocean-stars by which they are surrounded. 



Any one who, on a dark night in the summer- 

 time, has watched the waves whilst reclining over 

 the side of a steam-boat, has doubtless often noticed 

 the broad flakes of flame, which, kindled as it might 

 appear by the rude shock of the revolving paddles, 

 float astern, literally glowing with indignation. These 

 fiery masses are, in truth, Medusae, rudely roused while 

 "peaceful slumbering on the ocean," and testifying 

 thus their flaming wrath at such disturbance. 



Even in the seas of our own climate, the phospho- 

 rescent light emitted by the Medusae is extremely re- 

 fulgent, and well-calculated to elicit the admiration 

 of the beholder ; but its brilliancy is far surpassed in 

 warmer latitudes. 



* Forbes, British Naked-eyed Medusae. 



