524 VARIETIES. 



expanded : in different parts of the body I observed globules 

 floating, more particularly round the external parts. 



February 2-lth. — This morning, about 10 a.m., we passed 

 through another large shoal of Medusas ; they did not tinge 

 the water as before, neither were they distributed in lines, but 

 formed reticulated masses. On examination, I found them to 

 be composed of masses of animals, not so fully developed as 

 those I before examined ; they were agglutinated together in a 

 double series ; they appeared to possess no power of motion in 

 the sea, but were propelled by the waves : when put into a 

 basin of water, and placed in the sunshine, there was a slight 

 movement among them, but no activity. In the water their 

 bodies resembled films of dissolved isinglass, but when taken 

 out they were mere lumps of jelly. 



March 10th. — We have been constantly attended by the 

 oceanic birds, but have never been able to take any until this 

 date, when, during a calm, we hooked eight Albatrosses, in 

 every variety of plumage, from the uniform ashy brown of the 

 young birds, with pale lilac beaks, to the black and white of 

 the adult birds, with yellow beaks. On examination we found 

 them infested with three species of parasites, ail of which I 

 shall send you for the Club cabinet. 



We took in a good deal of water at Rio, and as long as this 

 remained we M^ere troubled with mosquitoes. I have caught 

 these blood-suckers coming out of my filterer at five or six in the 

 afternoon. Their bite is as bad, but not worse, than that of 

 our English Culex; they are black, having the legs prettily 

 annulated with white ; when resting they frequently throw out 

 the hind legs. 



Adelaide, April 2Uh, 1838. — We arrived safely in Holdford 

 Bay on the 16th of this month. I went on shore at midnight 

 with a naval officer, and accompanied him with the mail to this 

 place. The country and climate are delightful. The expec- 

 tations I had formed were moderate, I am therefore more than 

 surprised at the rapid progress making here : houses are 

 springing up in every direction. There are all the elements of 

 a flourishing community here. 



A. H. Davis. 



