MEMORANDA. 179 



were only scattered clouds of bloody water. This was at 

 some fifty miles from the shore. 



It was several times examined, either as scum or the 

 strainings of the discoloured water, and always with the same 

 results. I enclose a specimen, and also a very rough sketch, 

 taken near Callao. 



It may not be irrelevant for me to say that I have many 

 times seen and examined red water, more especially while 

 off the West Mexican and Californian coast. The colour 

 was not always due to Trichodesmium, but I do not re- 

 member any instance of animal life being the cause. The 

 Gulf of California is so notorious for its occasional tinging 

 as to have been called by the old Spaniards Colorado, red or 

 ruddy.— i. Linton Palmer, F.R.C.S.E., Surgeon H.M.S. 

 Topaze, at Panama. 



