—I speak with, particular reference to the lower marine animals—are usually brilliantly colored. This can be seen in the case of sea-anemones, tropical shells, and crabs. Those with little or no defense are inconspicuous and resemble surrounding objects. The reason for all this is plain, for if inconspicuous they easily escape the notice of their enemies. Brilliant, well-defended animals have little fear of enemies, but by their bright colors will attract curious animals within reach of their deadly powers.
Like the Physalia in general structure, and in the fact that they possess stinging cells, are the jelly-fishes, which are present in the Gulf Stream in a great abundance of forms. There are
Fig. 7.—A Jelly-Fish swimming.
bell-shaped, tubular, spherical, discoidal, and many other forms, most being transparent, but some very brilliantly colored. One of the disk-like forms is colored with deep purple and orange bands radiating from the center, while from the entire circumference hang many transparent tentacles. The mouth of most jelly-fishes is beneath, in the center of the bell, and is surrounded by tentacles which procure food. These are also furnished with stinging cells by which the food is killed. Their modes of repro-
