THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 



43 



Medusae," writes Mr. Scoresby, " in the olive-green 

 sea was found to be immense. They were about 

 one-fourth of an inch asunder. In this proportion, 

 a cubic inch of water must contain 64; a cubic foot 

 110,592 ; a cubic fathom 23,887,872 ; and a cubical 

 mile about 23,888,000,000,000,000 ! From sound- 

 ings made in the situation where these animals were 

 found, it is probable the sea is upwards of a mile in 

 depth ; but whether these substances occupy the 

 whole depth is uncertain. Provided, however, the 

 depth to which they extend be but two hundred 

 and fifty fathoms, the above immense number of 

 one species may occur in a space of two miles 

 square. It may give a better conception of the 

 amount of medusae in this extent if we calculate the 

 length of time that would be requisite, with a cer- 

 tain number of persons, for counting this number. 

 Allowing that one person could count a million in 

 seven days, which is barely possible, it would have 

 required that eighty thousand persons should have 

 started at the creation of the world" (the writer 

 refers to popular, not geological reckoning), "to 

 complete the enumeration at the present time." 

 The microscopic thread-like infusorials, called Galio- 

 nellce, appear to have a considerable share, as well 

 as the minute jelly-fishes, in producing the discolo- 

 ration of the water. Judging from the imperfect 

 figures given in the plates to the " Account of the 

 Arctic Kegions," the little animal to which the name 

 Appendicularia has been applied, probably plays no 



