48 



Fig. 1. Sargasmtn Vulgate. 



whereas in the latter year there was generally a strong south- 

 west wind blowing, and a rapid current running through the 

 Pdmban Pass carrying with it sediment in suspension, which 

 rendered the water turbid : and, as is known, a pure and trans- 

 parent condition of the water is the first and indispensable 

 condition for the life of many marine creatures, especially 

 those of the coast. Moreover, the ripple od the surface pro- 

 bably drove the pelagic animals into deeper water, which I did 

 not explore in search of them. On calm mornings, when the 

 surface has been teeming with small Medusce, I have seen the 

 living organisms and their dead gelatinous remains adhering 

 in large quantities to the surface of living corals with their 

 tentacles expanded, which were brought up for me by my 

 divers. There has been a noticeable absence of big jelly- 

 fishes during my visits to Rdm^svaram Island. Only, in fact, 

 during the last few days of my stay on the island in 1889 



