JELLY-FISHES 351 - 



to have a power of adhering, thus forming fixed points, 

 from which the little globe rises and falls at pleasure, 

 shortening or lengthening its delicate and novel cables, 

 maintaining all the while its erect position. 



When the Cydippe swims, however, which it does with 

 great energy, the threads seem unemployed, streaming 

 loosely behind, and evidently taking no part in the pro- 

 gression, though still adding beauty and grace to the tout 

 ensemble. The organs by which the sprightly motions of 

 the whole animal are effected are of quite another char- 

 acter, and shall now engage our attention. 



You have doubtless observed, while gazing on the ani- 

 mal, a peculiar glittering appearance along its sides, min- 

 gled in certain lights with brilliant rainbow-reflections. 

 Now let us take an opportunity, when it approaches the 

 side of the glass, to examine this appearance with a lens. 

 The globe, you see, is marked by longitudinal bands, 

 eight in number, set at equal distances, and ranging like 

 meridians, except that they do not quite reach to either 

 pole. These bands are the seats of the motile organs, 

 which are highly curious, and in some sort peculiar. 



Each band is of considerable width in the middle, but 

 becomes narrower toward the extremities. It carries a 

 number usually from twenty to thirty of flat thin mem- 

 branous fins, set at regular distances, one above the other, 

 which may be considered as single horizontal rows of cilia, 

 agglutinated together into flat plates. Each plate has a 

 rapid movement up and down, from the line of its inser- 

 tion into the band, as from a hinge, and thus striking the 

 water downward, like a paddle. The whole band may be 

 likened to the paddle-wheel of a steamer, except that the 

 paddles are set in a fixed line of curvature instead of a 



