New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-28
ODE JesOeIs of the |ea.

OF the umbrella is fringe Of fine delicate stream
ers. These are called tentaces from the Latin
word tentare 20 touch. and here the jelynsh keeps
a whole armory of wonderful weapons. Il
looks too lovely and fragile TO hurt anything but
as a matter OF fact few of the inhabitants of the
sea are 50 well able to take Of themselves.
They kill animals much bigger than them
selves and the larger ones can even overcome
human beings for which reason enemies are gem
orally careful 70 keep out OF their way.
The tentaces look much too fine and hairIlke 10
be used as storehouses. but each Is packed.
nevertheless, with cells, and In each cell is a little
Iasso just Ike the ones the cowboys in the
West 10 catch cattle with But. Instead of one
lasso, the jelyish has thousands of them and they
are great deal better than the cowboys lasso
Tor they are barbed at one end and kept in a
bath Of poison until they are wanted Thanks
TO those weapons. the jellyhsh is able to get It's
living without working 1t does not even have to
throw the lassoes. They throw themselves. When
ever cell is touched Il bursts. and the lasso is
thrown out, singing ana poisoning whatever ami
mai has been foolish came within reach
II this animal Is anywhere near the size OF the
jeyiish II is bound TO die from the effects Of the
poison. and the jeIyhsh Just waits for II TO do So
without taking any more trouble. It does not want
10 waste any lassoes. They only be used once
and every time one is thrown new one has to be
grown In It's place.
1t is from this fringe of sting,ng ten+erIes that
the jellyfsh gets its scientific NAME Medusa after
lIat ancient ana somewhat unpleasant parsonage
VINO mad snakes for hair
But the queerest thing about jellyfsh is not their
tletnods OF getting their meals The thing that
mas set al the scientific people talking and
MTiuhg BOOKS about them is that their parents
%lth ieW exceptions. not jeyfish and dom
Iook any more like jellyfsh than an umbrella or a
saucer looks like a tree They called hydrods
or water animals (from hydra, water, but they
con look Ike animals at all. They look like
p4ahts Lke moss. ferns tiny trees. and thcv are
eeHeTaliy mistaken for seaweeds. When one looks
az thein with the naked eye there Is little 10
snow that they are not plants but the microscope
SHOWS mat at the point upon the branches OF the
amman Tree there are n lot OF little horny
cups. ana In eacn OF these cups is little animal
stretchlng out circle of fairy fingers into the
@ateFy world where IL gets its food. Some of the
cups, however, are sealed over. The mothers OF
me eilyilsh are inside these cups bringing up their
families, and SO busy that they haven't time even
10 put out their delicate fingers take the food
that Inc water brings them. So the other animals
81 the colony have 10 feed them In spring the
ntlie sealed cups burst and the young jeIfy1sh
the ~ i''
They come with the flowers in their brightness
ei.d beauty, and with the flowers they fade and
ole before the dull breath of winter. They arc
cast on the beaches by thousands during the au-
lunn storms and by the time the snow comes
none are left OF AL the myrlads which foated like
baiis OF Hght upon the surface OF the summer seas
But down In the ocean. on rocks and shells and
see@eed new animal trees growing from the
Eggs cropped by the meduse and here. before an
other spring. new families OF beautiful Jewel.
! ike creatures will ba born.