6 THE PHYSALIA. 



tropical seas, and is also seen in high latitudes 

 during the summer months* of the year. When 

 first removed from the water, it excites the ad- 

 miration of the spectators by the elegant and 

 vivid colours with which it is adorned. These 

 tints, however, are as evanescent as they are 

 brilliant ; and soon after this animal is taken 

 from its native element, the crest sinks ; the 

 bright crimson, green, and purple tints lose their 

 brilliancy, and the beauty which had previously 

 excited so much admiration fades, and at last 

 totally vanishes. There are a number of species 

 of the genus ;t but the one most commonly seen 

 is the Physalia pelagica of Lamarck, {Holothuria 

 phy sails of Linn.) They are known to our sea- 

 men as the " Portuguese men of war," and 



* Mr. John Fuge, of Plymouth, informed me that he cap- 

 tured a specimen of the Physalia pelagica, in the Catwater, 

 (Pljmiouth Sound,) a iew years since, in the month of Au- 

 gust; it was floating upon the surface of the water, and 

 living when caught; he placed it in a glass globe of sea 

 water, and preserved it for three weeks. The only motion 

 he observed in the animal, was an occasional contraction and 

 elongation of the beaked end of the bladder portion of the 

 animal, and the tentaciilae were also drawn up and thrust 

 forward. 



•j- Physalis tuberculosa, P. megalista, P. elongata, and P. 

 pelagica, are the species given by Lamarck. (Sur les 

 Animaux sans Vertebres, tom. ii. p. 478.) 



