204 



AMERICAN JOURNEY. 



[Chap. V. 



of those queer flat sea-eggs. The tide was coming on fast 

 and strong, and several great Portuguese men-of-war were 

 thrown up upon the beach. The bladder, which Mr. McCrady 

 regards as the true Medusa, was most exquisitely coloured with 

 purple, puce, pink, and a golden streak along the edge. You 

 may handle them there, but woe to you if you get touched by 

 the long feelers, which are some two feet long — each one is 

 like a necklace, and it was beautiful to watch the creatures 

 drawing them in and out. These creatures are a reason for 

 bathing in clothes ; but it seemed very queer, walking into the 

 water with one's dress on — in and out just as it happened. At 

 last we determined on going to the end of a breakwater they 

 were making. We had to walk on a single plank supported 

 by framework, some eight feet above the water, which was 

 dashing on the stones under us — walking in this way for about 

 a quarter of a mile, carrying our things. He had first ascer- 

 tained that I could swim. So we got to the end, where they 

 are dropping fresh stones, descended under the scaffolding, 

 and began our search. Presently he found a new" coral. 

 There was one of the common species in the same rock to 

 compare. It was charming to see the corals in their own seas, 

 though of course these are only the outliers. Then the difficulty 

 was to get it off. After rummaging about for some time, we 

 found an iron bar. So we edged ourselves down, — planting 

 our feet in, to avoid being washed off by the waves, which 

 were dashing strong against us \ stooping our heads under 

 the rafters above us, one of the ferocious showers of rain 

 pelting its cold masses on our heads, while our nether portions 

 were warm in the waves of the sea. (An interesting position, if 



only had been there to sketch us off ! ) I had to seize the 



bits as he knocked them off, and grab them tight, lest the next 

 wave should dash them out of my hand. At last we secured 

 the specimens, and retraced our steps : the tide now being 

 too high for further research. Feeling considerable difference 

 in the temperature of my rain and sea water regions, I sug- 

 gested the propriety of an honest bathe. Mr. McC. taking 

 the same view, we rushed in to breast the waves. Several of 



