DISCOLOURED SEA 



CHAP. 



There are two circumstances in the above accounts which 

 appear remarkable : first, how do the various bodies which form 

 the bands with defined edges keep together ? In the case of 

 the prawn-Hke crabs, their movements were as coinstantaneous 

 as in a regiment of soldiers ; but this cannot happen from any- 

 thing^ like voluntary action with the ovules, or the confervae, 

 nor is it probable among the infusoria. Secondly, what causes 

 the length and narrowness of the bands ? The appearance so 

 much resembles that which may be seen in every torrent, where 

 the stream uncoils into long streaks the froth collected in the 

 eddies, that I must attribute the effect to a similar action either 

 of the currents of the air or sea. Under this supposition we 

 must believe that the various organised bodies are produced in 

 certain favourable places, and are thence removed by the set of 

 either wind or water. I confess, however, there is a very great 

 difficulty in imagining any one spot to be the birthplace of the 

 millions of millions of animalcula and confervae : for whence come 

 the germs at such points ? — the parent bodies having been distri- 

 buted by the winds and waves over the immense ocean. But 

 on no other hypothesis can I understand their linear grouping. 

 I may add that Scoresby remarks that green water abounding 

 with pelagic animals is invariably found in a certain part of the 

 Arctic Sea. 



CATAMARAN (bAHIA). 



