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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
beauty of form; to give an idea of the exquisite motion of the 
bell, pulsating with rhythmical regularity, and, by its alternate 
contraction and expansion, driving itself gently through the 
water ; or of its equally exquisite rest, as it floats, balloon-like, 
upon the tranquil surface ; to trace the curves of the flexile 
tentacles, or to paint the delicate but vivid hues with 
which the glass-like fabric is tinted. Let us. hear M. Lesson, 
who, whatever may be his merits as a classifier, manifests the 
true enthusiasm and sensibility of a naturalist in writing of his 
favourite tribe : — “ II est peu d’animaux plus varies et plus 
interessants a connaitre que les acalephes. ... Ils rivalisent 
avec les fleurs par l’eclat de leur coloration. Souvent les gemmes 
ne scintillent point avec plus d’eclat que certains d’entre eux. 
„ . . Vaguant solitaires ou par essaims de myriades d’indi- 
vidus sur la surface des mers par le temps de calme, caches 
lors des orages ou lorsque les vagues se heurtent ; et, cherchant 
un refuge dans les couches d ? eau plus paisibles, ils viennent 
pendant la serenite des nuits emailler le bleu azure de la mer 
par une phosphorescence vive et merveilleuse.’ * 
The distinguished naturalist, who, under the pseudonym of 
Alfred Fredol, has given us so charming an account of “ Le 
Monde de la Mer,” thus refers to the coloration of the Medusae : 
f 6 Sometimes the animal is colourless and of a transparency 
almost equal to that of crystal ; sometimes it is slightly opaline, 
of a delicate blue, or a pale rose colour. In some cases it pre- 
sents the most vivid tints and the most brilliant iridescence. 
In certain species, the central portions only are tinted red or 
yellow, blue or violet ; the rest of the body is without colour.” 
These are suggestions of a beauty which really cannot be de- 
scribed ; for, after all, it is colour suffusing the most exquisitely 
delicate tissues, and in association with perfect grace of form 
and motion that constitutes the charm of these ocean-wanderers. 
A word on the luminosity of the Medusae. The Discojphora 
are by no means principal agents in producing the phenomena 
of phosphorescence. Certain kinds only are luminous in any 
high degree, and though the large and brilliant ball is a strik- 
ing feature in the general illumination, it must yield to the 
myriads of Noctilucce and other minute beings which enamel 
the surface of the ocean “like little constellations fallen from 
the skies,” or cover the dark waves with soft yellow light, and 
tentacles (?) which are grouped about the generative pouches, and constitute 
a distinctive characteristic of the Discophora, because my object is to fix 
attention upon the obvious peculiarities of the tribe, rather than upon structural 
minutiae, however important. 
* “Histoire naturelle des Zoophytes. Acalephes, par Rene-Primevere 
Lesson.” 
