Elements of zoology, or, Natural Elements of zoology, or, Natural history of animals / ed. by Reese elementsofzoolog00rees Year: 1849 ACAJLEPHjE THE BEROE PILEUS. 501 easily unrolled when required for use. These animals are very- lively in their movements; and a few of them, placed in a tum- bler of sea-water, may be watched with much interest. Their long filaments appear to serve as fishing-lines for entrapping prey of much firmer structure than that of their own bodies. 880. Allied to the beroe in structure, but differing widely in external form, is a very curious species found in the
Elements of zoology, or, Natural Elements of zoology, or, Natural history of animals / ed. by Reese elementsofzoolog00rees Year: 1849 ACAJLEPHjE THE BEROE PILEUS. 501 easily unrolled when required for use. These animals are very- lively in their movements; and a few of them, placed in a tum- bler of sea-water, may be watched with much interest. Their long filaments appear to serve as fishing-lines for entrapping prey of much firmer structure than that of their own bodies. 880. Allied to the beroe in structure, but differing widely in external form, is a very curious species found in the Mediterra- nean, the Ctstum veneris, or Girdle of Venus. This is a ribbon- shaped jelly-fish, sometimes attaining the length of six or eight feet, its breadth not being as many inches. Its mouth is not at one end, but in the centre of one of the sides; and the alimen- tary canal, short and straight like that of the beroe, runs across to the other, and terminates there. Both margins are covered with cilia: by the vibration of these, the animal is propelled through the sea; and they must also serve to convey its food to the mouth, as it has no tentacula. Several species exist, which are intermediate in form between the beroe and the cestum veneris, having the rounded body of the former, but a sort of wing-like extension on each side, like the thin flat surface of the latter. 881. A very common form of this class, in some climates, is the physalus, known to the sailors as the Portuguese man-of-war. This is distinguished by its large air-bag, surmounted by a ver- tical membrane or crest, which usually floats above the surface of the water, and is acted upon by the gentle breeze, in the same manner as the little sail of the vel- I ella. The animal organs placed below are very like those of the Cirrhigrada. No distinct stomach can be perceived; but the tentacula are dilated at their roots into chambers, of which each may perhaps be regarded as a digestive cavity. Some of the tentacul
Size: 1380px × 1449px
Photo credit: © Bookworm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: archive, book, drawing, historical, history, illustration, image, page, picture, print, reference, vintage
