WIGMOUTH. 349 



was it dij0&cult to protract the pleasure ; for the little 

 creatures are kept alive with great ease for many 

 days. (See Plate XIII. fig. 6, nat. size ; fig. 7. 

 magnified). 



My first acquaintance with the species was made on 

 August 28th. A tiny specimen, not more than -jo-th of 

 an inch in height, was caught among other Medusse 

 off the little cove of Wigmouth. This is a beautiful 

 little nook for bathing, being quite unfrequented, 

 about two miles from the town, and having a smooth 

 sandy beach evenly sloping down, without rocks, ex- 

 cept at each side, where rocky walls inclose it about 

 fifty yards apart. These rocky sides projecting into 

 the sea allow of our walking out on their points and 

 ledges close to the water's edge. Here I stood, and 

 with a muslin net at the end of a pole dipped for the 

 smaller Medusae that were enjoying the afternoon sun 

 at the smooth clear surface. Many of these the rays 

 of the sun made visible against the dark depths, and 

 such I could select ; but the more minute kinds were 

 not perceptible, and these I could only dip for at a 

 venture, unconscious of their presence, until the ever- 

 sion of the net in the collecting jar discovered them 

 as prisoners. 



This pigmy Turris was inert when I examined it ; 

 the gelatinous umbrella turbid and almost opaque, 

 and the peduncle large and dull crimson. But in the 

 course of the next day considerable alteration had 

 taken place in its appearance. (Plate XIII. fig. 8). 

 The margin was contracted and turned back, exposing 

 a great part of the peduncle, which had become both 

 thicker and longer; its redness was also more intense 

 H 2 



