THE COASTS OF SICILY. 211 



ance, since by establishing the presence of the most 

 fundamental functions of the living being, they 

 demonstrated the existence of uniformity in the 

 entire family of the Medusidae. 



After discovering facts of this singular nature in 

 the study of the Medusse, this naturalist could 

 scarcely have failed to direct his attention to the 

 Beroidaa, their near allies. The external characters 

 of these animals present a degree of variability 

 which would lead one to infer the existence of very 

 considerable organic modifications. Their bodies, 

 which are either of an enamel or crystal-like con- 

 sistence, assume the most diverse forms. First, we 

 have the Beroes, properly so called, some of which 

 resemble inverted cones ; next the Callianiridie, with 

 long festooned bodies, bearing on either side a kind 

 of broad wing; again, there are the Cydippes, perfect 

 spheres, which, like little balloons, trail after them 

 two long contractile cords; lastly, there is the Cestus, 

 looking like a smooth thick ribbon, several feet in 

 length, and more than three inches in width, which 

 bears the poetic name of Venues girdle. If we have 

 reference to external forms alone, we shall find that 

 the members of this great family of the Beroidae 

 have scarcely any character in common, excepting 

 the form and mode of action of the organs of motion. 

 These organs consist of small ciliated plates (or more 

 correctly speaking, vibratile cilia, aggregated in 

 lamelliform groups), ranged above one another, and 

 disposed in rows on different points of the body. 

 These plates, which are almost microscopical, are 

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