188 THE CLIO BOREALIS ON THE COAST OF MAINE. 



Their movements were almost incessant, and were constantly those of 

 ascending and descending, almost always maintaining a vertical position even 

 when moving laterally ; at rare intervals they would suddenly pitch over and 

 start headlong for the bottom with hurried movement, as if bent upon a frolic, 

 but they usually recovered their upright position and measured step before 

 reaching it. 



The motion of the wing like appendages was motononous and always 

 jerkingly from before backwards, making the tips nearly meet in both direc- 

 tions, sweeping through the arc of a semicircle. No variation in the direction 

 of this regular flip-flap motion could be detected by which the upward or 

 downward movements of the animal could be predicated. Why they should 

 go up or why they should go down could not be determined by any visible 

 variation in this singular movement of the wings. These movements were 

 almost unceasing, whether observed by day or by night, the only variation 

 being, that at long intervals they would keep near the surface of the water, 

 bobbing apparently for a bubble of air which they would contrive to swallow, 

 or lying perfectly motionless, and apparently dead upon the bottom of the jar, 

 for a longer or shorter period. In this manner they lived in the jar for several 

 weeks and even for sometime after they had entirely disappeared from the 

 waters of the harbor. 



This animal has been described by numerous writers, but evidently by a 

 few only, from their own observations. The " Anatomical Researches upon 

 the Clione Borealis," by D. F. Eschricht however, published at Copenhagen in 

 1838, illustrated by numerous minute beautiful and accurate figures, seem to 

 preclude the necessity for any better description of its intricate structure. 



By reference to a diagram, made by Mr. A. W. Longfellow, of the Coast 

 Survey, for the purpose of determining at a glance the mean temperature of 

 Portland Harbor for a series of years, it would appear that the winter and 

 spring of 1832-3 were below the average range, and may perhaps have been 

 similar in other respects to that of 1867-8. This, as has been already stated, 

 was characterized by an early, steady, uninterrupted cold, though not extreme, 

 but unbroken by a single thaw till spring was well advanced. Whether the 

 same peculiarity attended that of 1832, we have not been able altogether to 

 ascertain, nor can we of course positively decide that it is to this peculiarity of 

 the season that we are indebted for this visit of the Clio. 



