Menzies Journal. 



Off Coast of California. 



1792. 

 April StU. 



Oniscus 

 fulgens. 

 Cook, Third 

 Toy., II., 257. 



Probably a 

 mollusk of the 

 Nudibranch 

 division. 



In the same 

 Oniscus which I 

 for examination 

 ferent directions 

 Hght it emitted 

 this little Insect 

 short character 

 Svstema Naturae 



bucket I found a most beautiful species of 

 immediately put into a glass of Salt Water 

 wherein it swam very quick about in dif- 

 & according to its position respecting the 

 various colours of the brightest hue. As 

 has not yet been described the following 

 may serve to distinguish its place in the 



Oniscus. 



fulgens O. ovalis compressus, pellucidus, cauda biseta. 

 Its whole body is about a quarter of an 

 inch long, oval, compressed & transparent, 

 consisting of eight Segments besides the 

 head part, which is of an obtuse form ; 

 each segment is closely joind near the 

 middle but a little separated towards the 

 edges; the Antennae & feet are small & 

 short ; the tail consists of two diverging 

 bristles about one fifth the length of the 

 body. 

 This undoubtedly is the same kind of Insect which Mr 

 Anderson met with in this Sea a little further to the North- 

 ward & is mentioned in Capt Cook's last Voyage, & as his 

 specific name is very applicable / I have retaind it & added 

 the foregoing description. 



Those upon deck in the forenoon saw a bird fly past the 

 ship very much resembling a Duck in its flight & general 

 appearance. In the evening we had it calm dark & heavy 

 with some slight showers of rain. 



The 8th continud calm & serene all day & as the Jolly 

 Boat was lowerd down in the water to go on board the 

 Chatham I took that opportunity to examine farther the 

 large extended patches of Medusa velella which still coverd 

 the surface of the sea all around us, & to many of these 

 I found adhering in clusters another kind of Vermes of 

 the same natural order but to what genus it belongs to I 

 am really at a loss to determine. 



This little animal is about an inch & a half long, 

 its body is somewhat Cylindric but tapering towards 

 the tail, the underside is flat but the upper side is con- 

 vex somewhat inflated & of a blueish tinge, the Mouth 



