A VOYAGE TO INDIA. 1 39 



spiral line of blue bead-like bodies, less than the head of 

 a pin, revolves around the cable from end to end, and 

 under the microscope these beads appear covered with 

 minute prickles, so hard and sharp, that they will rea- 

 dily enter the substance of wood, adhering with such 

 pertinacity that the cord can rarely be detached without 

 breaking. 



It is to these prickles that the man-of-war owes its 

 power of destroying animals much its superior in 

 strength and activity. When any thing becomes im- 

 paled upon the cord, the contractile fibres are called 

 into action, and rapidly shrink from many feet in length 

 to less than the same number of inches, bringing the 

 prey within reach of the little tubes, by one of which 

 it is immediately swallowed. 



This weapon, so insignificant in appearance, is yet 

 sufficiently formidable even to man. I had once the 

 misfortune to become entangled with the cable of a very 

 large man-of-war while swimming in the open ocean, 

 and amply did it avenge its fellows, who now sleep in 

 my cabinet robbed at once of life and beauty. The 

 pain which it inflicted was almost insupportable for 

 some time, nor did it entirely cease for twenty-four 

 hours. 



I might now proceed to describe many analogous ani- 

 mals scarcely inferior in interest, but it is time to no- 

 tice some individuals of another tribe, residing beneath 

 the surface, and therefore less generally known. 



