THE rHYSALIA. 



7 



galere or fregate among tlie Frencli, froin having 

 some respmblaiire to a sHiall vessel resting tran- 

 quilly on the surlacti ot" the water during* a calm, 

 ai itrhidi they am mof^ mdily discerned 

 thaa dnnu^ strong brnzes : th^ lt«vd abo beai 

 confonotlotl hy many persons unacquainted with 

 natural history with the jXauilhfs. 



The figure oi' this species is somewhat ovate ; 

 the upper portion resembles an infflll^ l)I^d«r, 

 rounded at one ^ti^ttity, mi wf&ii l^lc^-Hke 

 termination at the other. On the summit or 

 l)aek is a crest or ridge, slightly elevated, snl- 

 cated, and friuj^ed at tlie edges : the whole of 

 this part of the animal is of a light blue, with 

 oceasional streaks of d^lleat& fea-green, and 

 tinged with brilliant crimson : this |)Ortion ofth-e 

 animal is tilli'<l with air, and, altlinngli 1 have 

 heard it frequently asserted that the aiiiuial has 

 the voluntary power of collapsing' tlic bladder on 

 the approaeh Qif t^aoap^^glticiiu^, oar inds^^og;. il. <ni % 

 ta^tttm 6m w^^t^Wj yet I do not cis&dit the 

 remark, considering it is more prolialdy a sea- 

 man's tale than the result of a naturalist's oh- 

 servation. On examination, no apparatus is 



fonnd by which snch^ effect could he produced ; 

 mA if it actually possesses sueh ^ power^ h 

 it not exercised in every moment of peril for, 

 when we approach the animal to capture it, or 



