242 PJajsalia Pelagka. 



says, a certain sign of coming storms. He describes the sensa- 

 tion of the sting as similar to the pain caused by a splash of 

 boiling oil, and recommends brandy beaten up with the pow- 

 dered berry or nut of the mahogany-tree as the best remedial 

 application, but says that, at best, treatment can do no more 

 than reduce the pain, and that the effect will not, under any cir- 

 cumstances, entirely subside till after sunset, considering him- 

 self v r ery lucky in having been stung as late in the day as 

 two p.m., so that he had less time to suffer than those who had 

 received stings earlier in the day. Lebbord, in his Voyage aux 

 Antilles, gives an engraving of the Physalia, but not a very good 

 one, and Savigny, in his account of the wreck of the " Medusa" 

 describes the agony of sailors seized while in the water by the 

 tentacles of the ortie de oner. 



The specimen from which our drawing was taken was, it is 

 believed, the first ever seen alive in London. It was obtained 

 by my friend, Mr. P. H. Bird, M.E.C.S., while visiting the 

 Isle of Wight in July last. He heard of an extraordinary 

 creature having been secured by the captain of a trading 

 vessel ; and being an enthusiastic naturalist, hastened on board 

 to see the marine wonder, of which very extraordinary accounts 

 had reached him. He immediately recognised it as the Por- 

 tuguese man-of-war, in whose tentacula a small Smelt was 

 entangled and benumbed in the manner described by Mr. 

 Bennett. Mr. Bird lost no time in making those little arrange- 

 ments which caused it to change hands, and procuring a large 

 barrel, placed it longitudinally, so as to serve as a temporary 

 aquarium ; making other arrangements for the conveyance of 

 his treasure to London, where he looked forward to seeing it 

 disport itself gaily in the large tank in his conservatory in 

 Norfolk Square. The journey was performed under favourable 

 circumstances ; but on its arrival many of the long pui-ple 

 tentacles were found to have been worn off by the action of 

 the water against the sides of the barrel ; but the shorter ap- 

 pendages were still perfect, and still brilliant in all their opaline 

 tints ; while the bladder-body was as magnificent as ever with 

 its iridescent carmine, changing, with every change of light, 

 to green, yellow, or purple. Many of Mr. Bird's friends were 

 fortunate in seeing it in a living state in his aquarium, but, 

 in spite of fresh sea-water obtained every day, its London 

 existence was exceedingly brief, and many who had long 

 wished for such an opportunity of closely examining a Phy- 

 salea pelagica were disappointed of obtaining a sight of it. 

 However, several drawings were made from the life, and our 

 colour-printed engraving was taken from one made by Mr. Bird 

 himself, carefully compared with another made by a friend, 

 which Mr. Bird considered more perfect in regard to some de- 



