THE SALLEE MAN. 559 



Class III., Siphoxophora, embraces some of the most beautiful of the "Sea-jellies," or 

 Medusas, as they are called. The most notable, and surely the most beautiful of all, is the 

 ' ' Portuguese Man-o' - War. ' ' 



Physalia. This class includes species of most diverse forms, yet closely allied. The 

 essential parts, however, are not so varied — that is, the stomach and reproductive organs are 

 a mass of soft flesh that hang from the floats. It is the upper and ornamental portion that 

 varies. For example, see the difference between the beautiful bubble of the Physalia and the 

 little oval floating raft of the Sallee Man with its low crest, and the crestless circular float of 

 the Porpita. The latter, seen on the ocean as we have seen them in myriads, presents a 

 pretty circular disc of the dimensions of a quarter dollar. This is a perfectly smooth float, of 

 the same indigo and purple as the Physalia. On the under side is the fleshy mass of stomach and 

 small tentacles. In some there is a delicate fringe on the periphery. These are the Porpitas. 

 The Sallee Man, or Velella — meaning little boat — is more interesting from the curious form of 

 its crest. On an oval float like that of the latter species, there stands an upright sail-like crest, 

 of the thinnest isinglass-like substance when denuded, but when alive covered by the indigo- 

 colored membrane seen in all. The twisted shape of this upright is pleasing for its beauty of 

 form; and the denuded shells are exquisite in texture. These surely recall the "painted 

 ships upon a painted ocean." The two forms are seen in company ; and in some instances the 

 Physalia is seen in great numbers also with them. 



The Class IT., Ctenophora, embraces the highest forms of the Medusce. Venus Girdle 

 is an example. One of the prettiest of the Ctenophores is the Bolina of the New England 

 coast — Mnemiopsis. These are the pretty transparent comb-bearing forms that float in great 

 numbers on the waters during the hottest portion of the year. They are often strewn on the 

 beaches in vast masses, their iridescent bodies, or combs, glowing brilliantly. The Pleuro- 

 branchia rhodactyla is a common, rather small, oval form of great attractiveness. 



Beroe is another form, having no tentacles. It is of a delicate pink, which greatly 

 enhances its beauty. The pretty oval forms of these creatures constitute one element in 

 their beauty. 



The remarkable creature, called by the popular name of Sallee Max, sometimes cor- 

 rupted, in nautical fashion, into Sallymax, may be met in vast numbers, sometimes being 

 crowded together in large masses, and of various sizes, though it seldom approaches land. 



In this curious animal the body is membranous, oval, and very Hat, and may be at once 

 recognized by the cartilaginous crest which rises obliquely from its upper surface, and the 

 numerous tubercles which depend from its lower surface and surround the mouth. This 

 cartilaginous substance marks out the Sallee Man as possessing a somewhat higher organi- 

 zation than its merely gelatinous relatives, and it is therefore placed at the head of 

 its order. 



The Sallee Man, scientifically termed Velella vulgaris, is seldom seen on northern European 

 coasts, although it sometimes happens to be driven, by stress of wind and waves, to regions 

 more chilly than those in which it entered the world. It is thought with justice that the 

 upright cartilage can act the part of a sail, and, by means of its diagonal setting, drive the 

 creature through the sea. The exact direction of its movements is in all probability decided 

 by the numerous tentacles which hang from its lower surface, and which, by contraction or 

 extension, can become living rudders. 



The Velella is very widely distributed, and is found in every sea except those that are 

 subject to the cold influences of the poles. 



There is an allied genus called Rataria, in which the body is circular, and the row of 

 tentacles round the mouth is single. The body is sustained by a flattened elevated cartilagi- 

 nous plate, and possesses also a longitudinal crest above, muscular and movable. 



The internal cartilage of the Velellada? are sometimes found strewn in great numbers 

 on the surface of the water. Sailors believe that the delicate substance of the creature has 

 been destroyed by the hot sunbeams, but naturalists have now ascertained that the true 

 cause of their destruction is to be found in the sea-lizard (Glaucus), which feeds upon these 



