15 



Jtb November, 1882. 



The President, R. L. Patterson, Esq., in the Chair. 



A Paper was read by Mr. Thomas Workman, on 

 A RECENT VISIT TO BRAZIL. 



I arrived in Brazil on the 10th of February, 1881, and landed 

 at Para, at the mouth of the Amazon. On my voyage out I 

 was much struck with the brilliant colouring of the Physalia 

 or Portuguese Man-of-war, and it appeared to me that it owes 

 its safety partially, strange though it may appear, to the fact 

 of its possessing bright colours. If, for instance, a bird were 

 so foolish as to swoop down on one of these dwellers on the deep, 

 it would simply burst the bubble, for the Physalia is nothing 

 more, and have its labour for its pains, even possibly getting 

 stung by some of the stinging filaments that float in the water 

 from the lower side of the Physalia, and to that bird the bright 

 colours would ever after act as a danger signal. Fish, no doubt, 

 would fly from the Physalia's lovely colours, as it offers nothing 

 in the way of food, and any near approach would certainly 

 bring the too curious observer into unpleasant contact with the 

 stinging threads streaming below. Dull and insignificant colours 

 would always leave an uncertainty in the minds of birds and 

 fish as to what the creature was, making it more liable, on 

 that account, to be attacked ; thus, I think, can be seen the direct 

 advantage and safety that brilliant colours give their possessor. 

 All bright coloured Physaliae, having therefore fewer dangers, 



