410 AIR-BUBBLES. 



umbrella, to the interior, to the margin, to the ten- 

 tacles ; in short every part is sometimes studded with 

 these little sparkling globules. This is especially the 

 case with those dipped, as the specimens just named 

 were, among the rocks, where the sea breaks and boils; 

 and I suppose the air, which the waves take under in 

 breaking, is entangled in the viscidity of their gelatin- 

 ous coats. The effect is not only to hinder the exa- 

 mination of the animals, but will soon be fatal to them, 

 for the air-globules act like so many floats, keeping 

 the Medusa at the surface, and preventing its free 

 swimming. 



The best way that I know of to get rid of these 

 pretty but annoying spangles, is to push the Meduste 

 forcibly under water with a bit of stick or a glass rod, 

 striking them gently when deep under the surface. 

 Every blow dislodges some of the globules, which 

 rise and disperse ; by repeating this process you may 

 rid the animal of its floats and enable it to swim at 

 ease again. I do not find that the pushing about 

 hurts them ; though it frightens them a little, and 

 causes them to pump with redoubled energy. 



Oct. Qth. — I obtained several more specimens by 

 dipping at Warphouse Point on a sunny afternoon in 

 a heavy gale and sea, when nothing else occurred ex- 

 cept a solitary Turris neglecta. The species appears, 

 more than other small Medusae, to be tolerant of 

 rough weather. 



On examining the tentacles with a high power, I 

 find that the thickened rings are well-defined annular 

 swellings of the gelatinous substance, in which are 

 imbedded the filiferous capsules, to the number of 



