CHAP. VII. INDIRECT INJURIES. 223 



hornets, and other tribes of stinging insects augment 

 the list of our insect enemies. 



(235.) In the third great division of animals, the 

 MOLLUSCA, we find, comparatively, very few possessed 

 of properties or habits directly injurious to man. 

 Among radiated animals, however, there are several 

 Medusa Lin., which, upon being touched, produce all 

 those irritating sensations which are experienced on 

 handling a nettle. This we have more than once ex- 

 perienced in prosecuting our researches among the 

 marine animals : and upon one occasion the inflam- 

 mation was so great as to suspend the use of the arm 

 for several hours. Water, impregnated with animalculee 

 of the class Acrita, is well known to produce various 

 distressing symptoms ; and the poisonous quality of 

 certain shellfish, at particular seasons, is a belief which 

 has gained general credence. There seems, also, a 

 strong impression, not only among the fishermen of 

 Italy, but those of Europe, that the larger Cephalopoda, 

 or cuttlefish, of those seas, are highly dangerous, from 

 twisting their arms round swimmers, and impeding 

 their motions. Some of these, particularly those of 

 Sicily, are sometimes caught of an enormous size, with 

 their arms fully as long as an ordinary man's leg ; but, 

 notwithstanding the marvellous stories related and be- 

 lieved by their captors, we did not hear of any well- 

 authenticated instance of these animals having actually 

 occasioned the loss of life. 



CHAP. VII. 



INDIRECT INJURIES. 



(236.) IT is not only direct injuries which we receive 

 from animals, for they inflict others, which, if not 



