THE ISLE OP BIRDS. 209 



as they were of almost the exact tint of the 

 tentacles — a rich purple — and in this resem- 

 blance found protection. 



This led to the examination of other Portu- 

 guese men-o'-war, and one was rarely found with- 

 out the little attendants. 



This instance of mimicry was a remarkable 

 one, and Tom added to it by finding little 

 fishes beneath large jelly-fishes, all having pink 

 and white tints, affording them protection by 

 the resemblance. 



The boys were infatuated with this feature 

 of natural history, and almost every day added 

 to what they called their collection of mimics. 

 The little attendants of the jelly-fish and PTiy- 

 salia were all members of the mackerel family, 

 famous for seeking protection beneath other 

 animals. 



Having heaped up all the eggs they could 

 carry, the boys wandered down to the beach 

 again, where Long John had just hauled ashore 

 a cast-netful of fine mullets. 



The day was warm, and after lunch they 

 crept under the bushes and rested an hour, 



