400 
SHELLS. 
[Chap. XT. 
nearly a foot across, may be seen in the Grulf of Manaar, 
where, no doubt, others of still larger growth are to be 
found. 
Occasionally after storms, the beach at Colombo is 
strewn with the thin transparent globes of the " Portu- 
guese Man of War," Physalus urticulus, which are piled 
upon the lines left by the waves, like globules of glass 
delicately tinted with purple and blue. They sting, as 
their trivial name indicates, like a nettle when in- 
cautiously touched. 
Red infusoria. — On both sides of the island (but 
most frequently on the west), during the south-west 
monsoon, a broad expanse of the sea assumes a red 
tinge, considerably brighter than brick-dust; and this 
is confined to a space so distinct that a line seems to 
separate it from the green water which flows on either 
side. Observing at Colombo that the whole area so 
tinged changed its position without parting with any 
portion of its colouring, I had some of the water brought 
on shore, and, on examination with the microscope, 
found it to be filled with infusoria, probably similar to 
those which have been noticed near the shores of South 
America, and whose abundance has imparted a name to 
the " Vermilion Sea" off the coast of California. 1 
The remaining orders, including the corals, madre- 
1 The late Dr. Buist, of Bom- giving us the seas of milk as well 
bay, in commenting on this state- as those of blood. The coloured 
ment, writes to the Athenaeum that : water at times is to be seen all 
" The red colour with which the along the coast north to Kurrachee, 
sea is tinged, round the shores of and far out, and of a much more in- 
Ceylon, during a part of the S.W. tense tint in the Arabian Sea. 
monsoon is due to the Proto-coccus The frequency of its appearance in 
nivalis, or the Himatta-coccus, the Eed Sea has conferred on it its 
which presents different colours at name." 
different periods of the year—- 
