Translation of the original German introduction by Ernst Haeckel:
Pylum of Cnidaria (Nesseltiere); - subclass of Siphonophorae (Staatsquallen); - order of Physonectae (Prachtquallen).
Physonectae belong to the most beautiful and marvelous phenomena of maritime life; they resemble swimming flower pots with bodies made of colourful glass, tender leaves, flower buds and fruits covering it, highly sensitive and flexible. Physonectae are distinguished from the other orders of Siphonophorae (Cystonectae on plate 7, Disconectae on plate 17) by a higher level of division of labour of the numerous, diverse individuals that compose the colony, especially by the simultaneous possession of two differing ‘swimming apparatuses’, one as a passive ‘swimming bubble’, firm as a pinnacle, the other as numerous actively flexible ‘swimming bells’. The illustrated species belongs to the family of Discolabidae; it is distinguished from the ordinary Physophora by its ‘swimming bells’ being structured into four longitudinal rows instead of two.
Translation by VR Translators Bangalore
We've scanned the original lithography at 1200dpi on the Epson A3 scanner of A3 scanner huren. You can download a 400dpi JPEG here.