258 
THE OCEAN WOULD. 
species, seldom exceeding three inches and a half in length, and two 
and a half in its larger transverse diameter ; is described by Browne, 
in his “ Jamaica,” as “ of an oval form, obtusely octangular, hollow, 
open at the larger extremity, transparent, and of a firm gelatinous 
consistence ; it contracts and widens with great facility, but is always 
open and oxpandcd when it swims or moves. The longitudinal radn 
are strongest in the crown or smallest extremity where they rise from 
a very beautiful oblong star, and diminish gradually from thence to 
the margin, each being furnished with a single series of short, slender, 
delicate appendages, or limbs (cilia), that move with great celerity m 
all directions, as the creature pleases to direct its flexions, and in a 
regular accelerated succession from the top to the margin. It is impos- 
sible to express the liveliness of the motions of those delicate organs, or 
the beautiful variety of colour which rise from them to play to and 
fro in the rays of the sun ; nor is it easy to express the speed and 
regularity with which the motions succeed each other from one end ol 
the rays to the other.” “ The grace and beauty which the entire app®' 
ratus presents in the living animal,” says Gosse, “ or the marvellous 
ease and rapidity with which it can be alternately contracted, extended, 
and bent at an infinite variety of angles, no verbal description can 
sufficiently treat. Fortunately the creature is so common in summer 
and autumn on all our coasts, that few who use the surface can 
possibly miss its capture. It is worthy of a poet’s description, which 
it has received : 
‘ When first extracted from her native hrine. 
Behold a round, small mass of gelatine, 
Or frozen dewdrop, void of life and limb ; 
’ But round the crystal goblet let her swim 
’Midst her own elements ; and lo ! a sphere 
Banded from pole to pole ; as diamond clear, 
Shaped as bard’s fancy shapes the small balloon, 
To bear some sylph or fay beyond the moon. 
From all her bands gee lurid fringes play, 
That glance and sparkle in the solar ray 
With irideacont lines. Now round and round 
She whirls and twirls; now mounts, then sinks profound.’” 
DeummonP- 
Beside the Beroe, naturalists place the Cydippa, which is frequently 
confounded with the former. The Cydippa; are globulous or egg' 
shaped, furnished with eight rows of oils, corresponding with as many 
