202 QUE AT BEAUTY OF SEA BLADDERS, 



long dependant tentacles or feelers are of the deepest 

 purple. 



Dr Collingwood mentions having observed these splendid 

 zoophytes in the Atlantic Ocean, near the equator, sailing 

 by from time to time during the day, and attracting atten- 

 tion by their large size and brilliant color. ''They had the 

 appearance of beautiful prismatic shells, standing upright 

 on a rich blue cushion, the cell being radiated from the base 

 or cushion to the circumference, which was fringed with a 

 rich and bright rose color." He captured several specimens, 

 and the largest measured in the bladder eight inches, and 

 the greatest vertical circumference ten inches and a quarter. 

 The long dependant tentacles or feelers are from four to 

 five feet in length, and are capable of being extended much 

 farther when shot off for the capture of prey. 



But the glory of these magnificent objects, so developed 

 in their native element, fades, like sea-weeds, as the zoo- 

 phyte is taken from its watery home, with the exception of 

 the long tentacles, which retain their color (dark purple) 

 until decomposition takes place. " There is no rose without 

 a thorn," is a well-known saying ; and this gaily-colored 

 zoophyte has a dangerous stinging property to those who 

 handle it incautiously. An instance is related of a sailor 

 seeing one within reach from a boat, who took it up with 

 his naked hands ; the threads or elastic tentacles clung to 

 his arm, causing the man to yell with agony. He was quickly 

 brought on board, and ran about like a maniac, requiring 

 several men to hold him. When secured, and the proper 

 remedies applied, he rolled about for some time groaning 

 with pain; his arm was red, inflamed, and swollen, and 

 remained so for some hours. 



Its earliest modern name of '* sea-nettle" is derived from 

 that conferred upon this class of marine creatures by Aris- 

 totle, in consequence of the burning sting caused by the 

 poisonous tentacles or feelers of several members of this 



