Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/149

Rh transparent jelly. This living umbrella may be taken as a type of the numerous gelatinous parachutes, bells, vases, and cups that glide through the sea.

But here is a little object which deserves a separate notice, for it bears no outward resemblance to the bell-shaped creatures, though closely related to them. It is not easy to distinguish the form of this living lump of jelly. Now you may see it, though, if you look closely as the light just catches its surface. See, it is a little egg-shaped ball of crystal, marked with longitudinal bands of the prismatic colours. Two long threads, that look like spun glass, may be seen depending from its exterior, and these threads, if examined attentively, will be found to be fringed with yet finer threads or tendrils. Now this creature vanishes, and we are left to wonder how so much beauty could be compressed into so small a compass!

Many of these gelatinous little creatures, which have been learnedly named Acalephæ, are phosphorescent, and at night they cause the sea to assume the appearance of liquid fire. How beautiful must be the mermaid's home, when illuminated by myriads of these living lamps!

Suppose we now take a peep at some of the creatures that dwell in the crannies of these jagged rocks and wander through these miniature forests. We shall find them to be quite as remarkable