ITS STING. 9 



of a sail. It is said that the appearance of the 

 Physalia near to the sea-coast is the indication 

 of an approaching tempest.* 



Having captured a very fine specimen of this 

 animal on a former voyage in latitude 9° 0' 

 south, and longitude 12° 59' west, and being 

 aware of the pungent property residing in the 

 ten taeniae, I was desirous of trying its effects on 

 myself, for the purpose of ascertaining from 

 personal experience the constitutional irritative 

 effects resulting from it. On taking hold of the 

 animal it raised its tentaculae, and stung me on 

 the second and ring fingers. The sensation was 



* On the 5th of April, 1834, in latitude 29o 17' north, and 

 longitude 42" 57' west, temperature of the atmosphere 68° 

 to 72", I caught in my towing net a very fine specimen of 

 Physalis pelagica, adorned with the usual beautiful tints, but 

 not so vivid as I have usually seen them. The specimen was 

 the largest I had before witnessed. During the month of April, 

 1834,1 observed specimens of this mollusca as far north as lati- 

 tude 38° 32' north, and longitude 34" 30' west. The lowest 

 range of the thermometer being 58°, and highest 72°. In 

 March, 1831, 1 had seen them as far north as the latitude of the 

 Azores or Western Islands. Often when we had very strong 

 westerly winds, with a heavy sea running at the time, I saw 

 them ; yet not, to use a nautical expression, " furling sail" 

 and sinking ; this was sufficient to prove the absurdity of the 

 opinion that they collapse and sink during^stormy breezes. 

 I have frequently seen them capsized by a wave, but almost 

 instantly after regain their natural position. 



