1889.] On a Few Calif ornian Medmce. 60 1 
oval body above is a float, the flask-shaped or trumpet-Uke organ 
the polypite, whose inner wall serves as a digestive organ, and 
whose terminal opening is a mouth for the capture of food. The 
leaf-like covering-scales, sheltering beneath themselves the other 
organs or zooids, often keep up a flapping movement, by means 
of which the Athorybia is propelled from place to place. The 
function of the tentacles and tentacular knobs is probably the 
capture and retention of the prey. No sexual bodies were 
observed, from which we may readily conclude that the specimens 
Vhich were captured were immature. 
One of the most interesting of all the surface animals of the 
ocean is a beautiful genus called Velella, which receives its name 
from its fancied resemblance to a "little sail-boat." This genus 
is often so common in the Mediterranean Sea that the surface of 
the water appears to be almost covered with them, and after 
favorable winds they are sometimes accumulated in great masses 
along the shores and in the small bays and harbors of the Italian 
coast. In Florida, likewise, a similar animal occurs in great 
numbers, and stragglers often make their way even to the New 
England coast, where they arc often stranded on our Southern 
A Californian species of Velella, found along the west coast of 
the United States, occurs in the waters of the Santa Barbara 
Channel, and although often very abundant, is at times rather 
rare. Its bright blue color and its strange form make it a note- 
worthy Medusa. 
In the accompanying cut there is shown a view of this Cali- 
fornian Velella, as seen from above, looking down upon it as it 
floats on the surface of the sea. The diagonal oval region, 
crossed by a thin triangular plate, the edges of which are seen in 
the figure, is the float, which is composed of many concentric 
apartments, each opening exteriorly by a small orifice, and all 
communicating with each other. The larger oval is the body of 
the Medusa, and as it floats on the surface of the water this por- 
tion, which is flat, forms the great mass of the animal. Through 
its walls, which are of bluish color, the tentacles can be seen. 
