82 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
“They are to be sought for iu summer and autumn 
when the woathcr is warm and dry, and the sea calm and 
clear. They abound within reach, mostly in the afternoon 
and toward nightfall, — probably, also, during the night, 
though not then so near the surface of the water. A 
small bag of fine muslin, attached to a metal ring, is the 
best instrument by which to take them, and may be 
used either as a land-net fixed to the end of a stick or 
pole, or as a tow-net suspended over the stem of a vessel, 
when at anchor, or making very gentle way through the 
water 
“ When the tow-net is taken out of the sea it is to be 
carefully reversed, and its contents gently emptied into a 
basin or glass jar, filled with clear salt-water. It is best 
to plunge the net beneath the surface when being emptied, 
as thus the Medusae are enabled to detach themselves 
from the threads and swim away without injury. When 
the net is out of the water they appear like little, adhering, 
shapeless, masses of clear jelly, and exhibit no traces of 
their elegant form and ornaments. When in the jar or 
basin they are often, on account of their extreme trans- 
parency, very difficult to distinguish; but by placing the 
vessel in the sun or beside a strong artificial light, we see 
their shadows floating over the sides and bottom of the 
basin, like the shadows of flitting clouds on a landscape. 
These soon guide us to the creatures themselves, and before 
long we distinguish their ocelli and coloured reproductive 
organs;”* — when they may be lifted into other vessels, — 
the larger by means of a spoon, the smaller with thumb- 
tubes, for more close examination. 
*Op. cifc., p. 89. 
