acalepha

This irregular movement of the animals gives to the whole body an irregular rotatory motion; but when one is separated from the others it can only drive itself round and round upon its own centre, and has not the faculty of propelling itself as the other acalepha have.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2 George Grey 1855

It was curious to see them seize on these with their hooked tentaculae and draw them in, whilst the acalepha, or gelatinous animal, contracted and dilated itself with all its might and main, endeavouring to escape.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2 George Grey 1855

We saw float by this afternoon one of the acalepha, apparently about two feet long and shaped generally like a water snake; its tail had fins like that of an eel, of a purplish tinge; I could distinctly see its head and various vessels in its interior for it was quite transparent.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

On this evening we placed a large number of acalepha in a bucket, and on agitating the water it became a mass of phosphorescent light.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2 George Grey 1855

The sea was full of small acalepha, and in the midst of a shoal of these a whale was seen.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

Sea-jellies (acalepha) had now disappeared, although the more minute ones were as numerous as ever.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

Longipennes disappeared those sea-jellies (acalepha) which have the power of stinging, began to show themselves; previously to our passing this point I had not seen one: I saw several however today at no great distance from this flock of birds.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

The second zone extending from 31 degrees south to 22 degrees south latitude was inhabited by immense numbers of the larger and more beautiful kind of Sea-jellies (acalepha) particularly by those that have the power of stinging.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

Do then the larger acalepha in this zone perform the office of the birds in the more southern one, and prey upon the smaller species of their own kind?

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 George Grey 1855

They also swim with either end foremost, in the manner the other acalepha do.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2 George Grey 1855