(Fe'rs'of their Author. Let us bestow on them the at> 

 tention they deserve : what we are about to relate con- 

 cerning them, will be fbwid well deserving notice in- 

 natural theology. 



On the rocks near the sea-shore you may perceive 

 little fleshy masses, of the size of an orange, whose form, 

 is like that of a counter-bag, and pretty nearly resem* 

 bling that of a cone when cut. All these masses seem 

 immovable, and connected with tbe rock by their base : 

 some of them are rough, others smooth. We have just 

 now compared them to a bag or purse, in which counters 

 are put; but this bag is not folded together, and is like- 

 wise without strings. They are nettles that you see, a 

 very singular kind of animals, that demand a closer at- 

 tention. The body of the animal is, in effect, inclosed 

 within a sort of fleshy purse, of a conic figure : at the 

 top of the cone is an opening, which the nettle increases 

 or contracts at pleasure. 



Let us consider the sea-nettles that we have now he- 

 fore us. There is one that opens and unfolds itself like 

 a flower : it has put forth a hundred and fifty fleshy 

 horns, like those of snails, distributed in three rows 

 round the aperture. You remark, that little water- 

 spouts issue from these horns; consequently they do 

 not perform the same functions as those of snails ; they 

 are analogous to the pipes of dails, cutlers, and other 

 shell-fish which you have seen. You also remark, that 

 the form of these nettles varies greatly ; that their base 

 is sometimes circular and sometimes oval ; and that the 

 height of the cone varies according to the dimensions of 

 its base : it rises or falls as the base grows narrower or 

 wider. Touch one of these blown nettles : see with, 

 what quickness it closes and contracts itself. But you 

 perceive no progressive motion : are the nettles then 

 condemned to pass their whole life fixed to the same 

 spot ? The ancients thought so. What are we to think 

 of them] About an hour ago, this large nettle, which 

 you see on your right hand, touched this point of the 

 M 4 



