138 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



and went in search of them, but the tide was so swift 

 that they swept past like lightning, and one had hardly 

 time to point them out before they were gone again. 

 However, after many efforts, we succeeded in getting 

 one, whose portrait Mr. Burkhardt is now taking. The 

 disk is of a chocolate-brown, shading into a darker, more 

 velvety hue toward the edge, which is slightly scalloped, 

 but not cut up into deep lobes like those of yesterday. 

 The eyes, eight in number, are distinctly visible as lighter- 

 colored specks on the margin. The appendages hanging 

 from the mouth are more solid and not so thickly fringed 

 as in those of yesterday. It moves rather slowly in its 

 glass prison, the broad margin shading from lighter brown 

 to a soft chocolate color almost verging on black, as it flaps 

 up and down somewhat languidly, but still with a regular, 

 steady pulsation.* 



August 9th. We passed yesterday afternoon with the 

 Braga family in town. The weather was charming, a 

 cool breeze blowing through the veranda where we dined. 

 There were a number of guests to meet us, and we had 

 again cause to acknowledge how completely the stranger 

 is made to feel himself at home among these hospitable 

 people. We sailed this morning, Mr. Agassiz taking with 

 him a valuable collection, though our time was so short. 

 The fact is, that, not only here, but at every town where 

 we have stopped in coming up the coast, tliajready, cordial 

 desire of the people to help in the work , has enabled him 

 to get together collections which it would otherwise have 

 been impossible to make in so short a time. If he is 



* These two Medusas belong to the Rhizostomidse, and I shall take an early 

 opportunity to publish a description of them, with the drawings of Mr. Burk 

 hardt. L. A. 



