52 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER V. 



" Awhile to wait upon the firm fair sand, 

 When all is calm at sea, all still at land ; 

 And there the ocean's produce to explore, 

 As floating by, or rolling on the shore ; 

 Those living jellies which the flesh inflame, 

 Fierce as a nettle, and from that its name ; 

 Some in huge masses, some that you may bring 

 In the small compass of a lady's ring ; 

 Figured by hand Divine there 's not a gem 

 Wrought by man's art, to be compared to them ; 

 Soft, brilliant, tender, through the wave they glow, 

 And make the moonbeam brighter where they flow." 



CEABBE. 



ON MEDUSA OR JELLY-FISHES. 



FEW of our readers are unacquainted with the forlorn 

 appearance of those gelatinous lumps which the re- 

 tiring waves leave behind them upon the sea-beach, and 

 which, under the euphonious names of " Slobs " and 

 "Slobbers" or the still more appropriate appellations 

 of " Stingers '' or ' ' Stangers" sometimes encumber 

 the shore as their ice-like masses melt away before 

 the sunbeams. Few, we hope, have not admired their 

 graceful forms, when floating freely in their native 

 element they could unfold their beauties to the eye, 

 and show themselves such as they really are, the 

 gayest, frailest, loveliest wanderers of the deep. It 



