The pattern on which they are made is very simple (see cut), and yet it is so built upon and changed that the members of this Family are among the most lovely of animals.
These animal-plants have, from their odd and pretty shapes, such names as the sunflower, the aster, the fern, the crown, the fan, the pen, and so on. I will now tell you about one of them.
Early one day I went from my door to the beach, which was near, and there I saw a lovely object.
The water was very still and clear, and floating in it was something all rose and cream color.
This pretty thing was as large as a very large dinner-plate. It was not flat, but shaped like half an orange, with the rounded side up. It was of a fine rose color, and as clear as jelly. It looked much like pink jelly.
From the centre of the top to the edge went lines of a deeper pink. There were also dots around the outer edge. This edge seemed to have a soft full ruffle of cream color about it. Looking closer, I saw that the under side was not flat. It was shaped like a bell or an open parasol. It had something which looked like long leaves, and which opened and shut.
But this was not all that I saw. From the darker lines on the upper part of the bell ran out long pink arms. These were almost a yard long. Their edges had full ruffles. They were of a cream color, like soft lace.
These long arms hung down in the water, which spread out their pretty edges. With a soft and gentle motion they waved from side to side.
In my boat I went quietly near this creature. It floated here and there, spread out in all its beauty. I kept near it to watch it. This lovely thing was a jelly-fish.