SEA-BLUBBERS. 



87 



shall briefly exemplify. The seas around our coasts 

 swarm in summer with hosts of a little creature which 

 resembles an oval ball of the purest glass, varying from 

 the size of a pea to that of a hazel-nut, though there is a 

 larger species on the Scottish coast, as big as a lemon. 

 The one we speak of is named Cydippe pileus. If we take 

 one from the muslin bag of a to wing-net, and shake it off 

 into a tumbler of clear sea-water, we shall have a most 

 interesting object before us. Indeed, so perfectly hyaline 

 is its consistence, that we must keep a sharp watch on it, 

 or it will escape our sight, and we may not easily find it 

 again. From pole to pole of this crystal globe run eight 

 bands, like meridians of longitude, across each of which 

 are fixed a great number of flat plates, which move up and 

 down symmetrically and rapidly, rowing the little ball 

 along like so many paddles. By the vigorous action of 

 these organs, which, decomposing the rays, play in the 

 sun's light with the most brilliant prismatic colours, the 

 Cydippe performs at pleasure the most varied movements, 

 with inimitable ease, rapidity, and grace. It shoots with 

 force through the water, catching its prey with open 

 mouth ; nor is this always of the most helpless sort ; 

 small shrimps of various species form its ordinary food, 

 and these are swallowed and digested with surprising 

 facility. 



At times the little Cydippe wishes to arrest its motion ; 

 and for this purpose it is furnished with two cords of great 

 length, which, whatever other ends they may serve, cer- 

 tainly answer the purpose of mooring-cables. At the 

 sides of the body there are two oblong cavities, into which 

 these threads may be entirely coiled up in an instant, or 



