LECTURE X. 
141 
of eight limbs or arms, springing from a central 
trunk, dividing into eight large wrinkled lobes, 
which are tipped with so many lengthened sub- 
triangular processes. The whole animal is of a 
glassy transparency, and very much resembles the 
appearance of a chandelier or glass lustre. The 
Medusas in general are with extreme ‘difficulty 
preserved in their natural appearance, either in 
spirits, or by any other method, and many of them 
have been but very imperfectly described and 
figured in the works of Naturalists. The Medusa 
Pulmo, which I have just mentioned, has been 
very accurately and elegantly described and re- 
presented by Dr, Macri, an Italian physician, who 
many years ago published its description. The 
species of Medusae differ very much in habit from 
each other; insomuch that several distinct genera 
might be instituted from the single Linnaeaii ge- 
nus Medusa. Many species are highly phospho- 
ric, and shine during the night with a very bril- 
liant lustre. They are of a predacious nature, and 
live on the smaller kinds of fishes, and other ma- 
rine animals, which, notwithstanding their appa- 
rently tender nature, they are enabled to seize 
