THE SALLEE MAN. 
559 
Class III., Siphoxophora, embraces some of the most beautiful of the “Sea-jellies,” or 
Medusae, as they are called. The most notable, and surely the most beautiful of all, is the 
“ Portuguese Man-o’-War.” 
Physalia. This class includes species of most diverse forms, yet closely allied. The 
essential parts, however, are not so varied — that is, the stomach and reproductive organs are 
a mass of soft flesh that hang from the floats. It is the upper and ornamental portion that 
varies. For example, see the difference between the beautiful bubble of the Physalia and the 
little oval floating raft of the Sallee Man with its low crest, and the crestless circular float of 
the Porpita. The latter, seen on the ocean as we have seen them in myriads, presents a 
pretty circular disc of the dimensions of a quarter dollar. This is a perfectly smooth float, of 
the same indigo and purple as the Physalia. On the under side is the fleshy mass of stomach and 
small tentacles. In some there is a delicate fringe on the periphery. These are the Porpitas. 
The Sallee Man, or Velella — meaning little boat — is more interesting from the curious form of 
its crest. On an oval float like that of the latter species, there stands an upright sail-like crest, 
of the thinnest isinglass-like substance when denuded, but when alive covered by the indigo- 
colored membrane seen in all. The twisted shape of this upright is pleasing for its beauty of 
form; and the denuded shells are exquisite in texture. These surely recall the “painted 
ships upon a painted ocean.” The two forms are seen in company ; and in some instances the 
Physalia is seen in great numbers also with them. 
The Class IV., Ctexophora, embraces the highest forms of the ALedusce. Venus Girdle 
is an example. One of the prettiest of the Ctenophores is the Bolina of the New England 
coast — Mnemiopsis. These are the pretty transparent comb-bearing forms that float in great 
numbers on the waters during the hottest portion of the year. They are often strewn on the 
beaches in vast masses, their iridescent bodies, or combs, glowing brilliantly. The Pleuro- 
braneMa rhodactyla is a common, rather small, oval form of great attractiveness. 
Beroe is another form, having no tentacles. It is of a delicate pink, which greatly 
enhances its beauty. The pretty oval forms of these creatures constitute one element in 
their beauty. 
•/ 
The remarkable creature, called by the popular name of Sallee Max, sometimes cor- 
rupted, in nautical fashion, into Sallymax, may be met in vast numbers, sometimes being 
crowded together in large masses, and of various sizes, though it seldom approaches land. 
In this curious animal the body is membranous, oval, and very fiat, and may be at once 
recognized by the cartilaginous crest which rises obliquely from its upper surface, and the 
numerous tubercles which depend from its lower surface and surround the mouth. This 
cartilaginous substance marks out the Sallee Man as possessing a somewhat higher organi- 
zation than its merely gelatinous relatives, and it is therefore placed at the head of 
its order. 
The Sallee Man, scientifically termed Velella vulgaris , is seldom seen on northern European 
coasts, although it sometimes happens to be driven, by stress of wind and waves, to regions 
more chilly than those in which it entered the world. It is thought with justice that the 
upright cartilage can act the part of a sail, and, by means of its diagonal setting, drive the 
creature through the sea. The exact direction of its movements is in all probability decided 
by the numerous tentacles which hang from its lower surface, and which, by contraction or 
extension, can become living rudders. 
The Velella is very widely distributed, and is found in every sea except those that are 
subject to the cold influences of the poles. 
There is an allied genus called Rataria, in which the body is circular, and the row of 
tentacles ronnd the mouth is single. The body is sustained by a flattened elevated cartilagi- 
nous plate, and possesses also a longitudinal crest above, muscular and movable. 
The internal cartilage of the Velelladse are sometimes found strewn in great numbers 
on the surface of the water. Sailors believe that the delicate substance of the creature has 
been destroyed by the hot sunbeams, but naturalists have now ascertained that the true 
cause of their destruction is to be found in the sea-lizard ( Glaucus ), which feeds upon these 
