SOMETHING ABOUT JELLY-FISHES. 249 
entrap its food, and again so contracted that the mouth 
is quite hidden. 
Another form called Jdyia is long and cylindrical like a 
tube rounded and closed at one end, the other abrupt and 
open; the open end constitutes the mouth. In fact, it is 
hardly more than a locomotive stomach. This Jelly-fish 
has more consistency than those heretofore described, and 
is quite opake. At certain seasons of the year they are 
pinkish in color. An individual of this species, when 
confined with Pleurobrachia, soon manifests its carnivo- 
rous propensities by attacking, and often swallowing the 
Pleurobrachia whole. It does not appear daunted if its 
victim proves larger than itself, but slowly, patiently 
engulfs its victim; and a curious sight it is to see the 
Idyia directly after this feat is performed, presenting the 
appearance of a tight skin drawn around the innermost 
Jelly-fish, though in a short time its food is digested, and 
the Idyia resumes its normal shape, and not in the least 
augmented in size, It probably requires a dozen or 
more of such game for an ordinary lunch. This state- 
ment will not be wondered at, if the experiment is tried 
of drying a specimen of Pleurobrachia on a white card, 
and finding nothing left but a few crystals of salt. The 
Vitality of these Jelly-fishes is remarkable: they can be 
cut in several pieces, and yet each piece will remain 
alive for a long time in the water; and one naturalist, 
after having cut an Idyia in half longitudinally, observed 
one half to enfold, and digest another Jelly-fish. 
The three forms thus far described are common repre- 
Sentatives of an order of Jelly-fishes called Ctenophore, 
or Comb-bearers, the fringes or paddles having been com- 
pared by some writers to the teeth of a comb. These 
fringes form a distinguishing trait of the order. The 
AMERICAN NAT., VOL. I. 32 
