SCO 



THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



swimming near the surface in calm weather, and again descending 

 on the approach of a squall. Like them also, their delicate 

 structures rapidly disappear when removed from the sea-water 

 and exposed to the rays of the sun, an almost imperceptible 

 film remaining the only trace of what was erewhile an active 

 and beautiful organism. Yet in spite of their aqueous consistence 

 the Ctenophora are very voracious, feeding on a number of 





Various forma of Ctenophora. 



x. Cetttsm Veneris, b. Eurhamplnea vexilligera. c. Beroe rvfeacens. d. Callianiru tripurptera. 

 e. Pleurobrachia pileus. — (a is considerably reduced ; b slightly so ; e and e are about the 

 natural size ; the size of d is uncertain.) 



floating marine animals, among which their own kindred seem 

 especially to be preferred. The prey once swallowed is assi- 

 milated with a rapidity which to some may seem strange when 

 the simple structure of the digestive apparatus is considered. 



The land has its flowers ; they bloom in our gardens, they 

 adorn our meadows, they perfume the skirts of the forest, they 

 brave the winds that blow round the high mountain peaks, 

 they conceal themselves in the clefts of rocks, or spring forth 



