ITS BAD CHARACTEE. 145 



probably the latter was the real cause, for when he 

 purposely applied some of it to his chin, some hairs 

 feU from the part. 1 



We may add to this account, as being in a measure 

 confirmatory of its probability, the statement of a per- 

 fectly dependable naturalist, Mr. Charles Darwin, that he 

 found a species of Aplysia at St. Jago, one of the Cape 

 Verd Isles, from which " an acrid secretion, which is 

 spread over its body, causes a sharp stinging sensation, 

 similar to that produced by the Physalia, 2 or Portuguese 

 man-of-war." 3 And yet I have myself freely handled 

 Aplysice in health and vigour, both here and on the 

 coast of Jamaica, without perceiving the slightest un- 

 pleasant sensation. 



But in the days of ancient Eome the poor Sea-hare 

 had a far more terrific reputation. In those dark days 

 of the Empire when no one's life was secure against 

 insidious assassination, and when professed poisoners 

 were at the command of such as could afford to pay 

 their hire, this mollusk was an essential element of the 

 fatal draught. " Locusta used it to destroy such as were 

 inimical to Nero; it entered into the potion which 

 she prepared for the tyrant himself; and Domitian was 



1 De Anim. Mann., quoted in Johnston's Introd. to Conchology, p. 18. 

 - This animal will be described in a subsequent chapter. 

 8 Journal of Researches, chap. i. 



K 



