146 MB. T. EDWABD ON THE HABITS ETC. OE THE HTPEBIIDiE. 



swimming about, sometimes rolling themselves up, and in tbat 

 position would fall to the bottom, where, having lain for a little, 

 they would start up and begin swimming again. 



I could never get either of these forms to eat, although I have 

 kept them for that purpose, and with the view of ascertaining what 

 their food might be. They in fact seldom rested long enough 

 to allow of anything of the kind. Lestrigonus Kinahani, however, 

 always appeared more docile, if I may use the phrase, and was 

 never so restless as H. galha. Yet the whole aim of both, however 

 large the vessel in which they were confined, seemed to be to 

 regain their liberty and be once more in the free ocean. This 

 being denied them they generally died in about two days, and 

 sometimes sooner. I have placed various substances (in addition 

 to marine productions), such as wood, cork, &c., in the vessel with 

 them, but I never saw any of them pay the least attention or 

 attach themselves to anything. A few once, but it was only for 

 a little while, concealed themselves in the folds of a piece of 

 paper; but that was the only instance of the kind I ever saw. 

 Eestless apparently in manners, though not quite so active and 

 wild as some of their congeners, still their constant habit, as I 

 have already hinted, was to swim about, with the additional trait 

 of rolling themselves up occasionally like a ball, sinking to the 

 bottom, where, after resting for a little, they would again stretch 

 themselves out and resume their former occupation. 



But although I have stated at some length the facts concerning 

 the Medusa and some of its so-called parasites, I am not inferring 

 whether they prove or disprove anything — that is, whether the 

 Syperia be parasitical or not. That the experiments, as will be 

 observed, were in most cases made at what may be called a dis- 

 advantage to the animals, I freely confess, also that they were 

 done merely to satisfy my own insatiable curiosity. Still I con- 

 sider the circumstances worth recording, especially where they 

 may meet the notice of those who, like myself, take an interest 

 in these things ; for we not unfrequently see that what are at 

 times considered to be nothing but worthless and insignificant 

 incidents, often turn out in course of time productive of very 

 important and valuable results. Something of this kind may 

 accrue from my observations, as they may, I hope, be the means 

 of stimulating others to investigate the matter more fully and 

 with greater diligence. 



It is also worthy of notice that, of the two species of Hyperia 

 which I have found in the Medusa, H, galha has always been the 



