JELLY-FISHES 361 



merge into the marginal canal, a dilatation of the Common 

 flesh, which, as you see, bulges out the surface of the 

 umbrella. We will examine one of these dilatations with 

 the microscope. 



It is, as you perceive, occupied by a number of clear 

 globes, each of which has another minute globose body in 

 its interior. They are very diverse in size, some being 

 very small, others comparatively large, and it is to the 

 dimensions of these latter that the swelling of the surface 

 of the umbrella is due. These vesicles are the eggs of 

 the animal considerably advanced toward maturity; and 

 the dilatations around the radiating vessels are the ovaries. 



The margin, however, presents us with the most obvi- 

 ous, and perhaps the most interesting, points of diversity 

 from the little Sarsia. In the little beauty before us 

 whose name, by the way, Thaumanlias pilosella, I have 

 not yet told you the outline is fringed with about fifty 

 short and slender tentacles, each of which springs from a 

 fleshy bulb, in which, is set a speck of deep purple. These 

 collections of colored granules, which I have already ex- 

 plained to be rudimentary eyes, have a very charming 

 effect, and give a beautiful appearance to the little creat- 

 ure, as if its translucent crystalline head 

 were encircled with a coronet of gems. 



You shall see them, however, under 

 circumstances which will make them ap- 

 pear more lustrously gemmeous still. Come 

 with me, and I will carry the glass con- 

 taining our little Thaumantias into the 

 next room. You need not bring the candle, or what I 

 am going to show you will be quite invisible. 



Take hold of this pencil, and having felt for the glass, 



15 SCIENCE 16 



THAUMANTIAS. 



