21 2 PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR. 



under the name of the Portuguese Man-of-War. It 

 is buoyed up by air bladders in fact, its entire 

 body appears as one bladder, which the animal is 

 enabled to contract or expand at will. At first 

 glance the Physalus appears to belong to quite a 

 different family suffering under some maltreatment ; 

 for from its lower side, what seem a number of 

 entrails, of all shapes and sizes, hang down. When 

 the upper surface or crest of its swimming bladder 

 projects above the waves, it has a beautiful appear- 

 ance, spangled with rays of purple, blue, and gold. 

 This formation acts as a kind of sail, by means of 

 which the creature is enabled to glide along with 

 considerable speed. 



This Physalus is a somewhat mysterious being, 

 and zoologists have not as yet been able to determine 

 many points connected with its structure and develop- 

 ment. 



The Cirrigrade Acalephse, too, are a singular 

 family. They exhibit a higher stage of development 

 than those already alluded to, and possess a kind of 

 skeleton embedded within their gelatinous bodies. 



The Porpita and Velella are examples of this 

 class, but for detailed descriptions I must refer the 

 reader to larger works which treat on the subject. 



I cannot conclude this brief and imperfect sketch 

 of the Acalephse without noticing their singular mode 

 of reproduction. Nothing can appear more mar- 

 vellous than this process when first brought before 



