120 Zoological Society* 



large quantity of very light brownish fluid; this no doubt was the 

 faces. 



" But few of these animals were caught after the 20th until the 

 24th of the same month, in latitude 2° 26' N., longitude 19° 51' W., 

 when having light airs from S. by E., nearly calm ; in the morning 

 a great number were seen floating by the ship, and it was not diffi- 

 cult, by aid of my towing-net, to capture as many as I required, for 

 they swam very superficially upon the water. The whole of those 

 taken proved to be of the same species (G. hexapterygius) as those 

 before caught. I again placed several of the specimens in a glass 

 of sea water; they were full of life, sometimes moving about, not 

 very briskly, however, — and at other times remaining floating upon 

 the surface of the water, merely gently moving the fins. As they 

 floated upon the surface of the water in the glass, the sides of the 

 head, back, tail, fins, &c, exhibited at the time a light silvery blue 

 colour, which was admirably contrasted with the deeper blue of the 

 upper surface, and falling into the elegant pearly or silvery white of 

 the under surface of the animal, displaying an exceedingly rich and 

 elegant appearance. Often, when at rest, the animal would drop one 

 or more of the fins, but on touching them, they would be immediate- 

 ly raised to the former position, and that organ was turned back as 

 if to throw off the offending object, followed at the same time by a 

 general movement of the whole body. On touching the animal upon 

 the back, it seemed to display more sensitiveness in that than in any 

 other part of the body, judging from the effects produced, in com- 

 parison with similar experiments on other portions of the body ; for 

 instance, the centre of the back was touched lightly and rapidly with 

 a feather; which caused the little creature to sink as if under the 

 pressure of the touch, throwing at the same time the head, tail, and 

 all the fins upwards, followed by a general distortion of the whole 

 body of the animal, as if the gentle touch had been productive of 

 severe pain. I invariably found every part of the upper surface of 

 the body very sensitive when touched, and displayed a general move- 

 ment of uneasiness throughout the whole of the body of the crea- 

 ture. 



" These creatures have a peculiar manner of throwing the head 

 towards the tail, and flouncing the tail towards the head, when they 

 are desirous of removing any object of annoyance. It is at that time 

 these animals seem to recover from their torpidity, and evince the 

 greatest activity in their movements. When much annoyed, they 

 throw the body about with great activity, coiling up the head, tail, 

 fins, &c, in a somewhat rotundiform position; and if the tormenting 

 object is not removed, dasji out again in full activity of body, then 

 return to the rotundiform position, and there remain for a short 

 period apparently exhausted by their efforts. But on the cessation 

 of the irritating cause, the animal quietly resumed its original po- 

 sition, perhaps dropping one or two of its wearied fins according 

 as its own sensations of ease or comfort might dictate. 



" When nothing irritated this tender mollusk, it would remain 

 tranquilly floating upon the surface of the water with scarcely any 



