LEMMA ISLANDS. 
59 
equal distances from the sun’s disk, darted upwards from the horizon, 
diminishing in intensity of colour, till they vanished in the azure of 
the surrounding atmosphere. In the intervals between these, the 
sky was of a clear green, spotted with small masses of dark cloud. 
Our alarm was increased by a slight fall of the barometer, but it was 
groundless ; the wind continued steady, and the sails which had 
been furled were again spread to a favourable breeze, that enabled 
us to join Sir George Staunton off the Great Lemma Island on the 
following morning. 
The Lemma Islands appeared to possess sufficient botanical and 
geological interest, to make me very desirous of an opportunity of 
examining them ; but as they afforded no shelter or convenient 
watering place for the squadron, our stay was too short to admit of 
my landing. I was enabled, however, to form some opinion of their 
structure through the kindness of my friend Capt. Hall of the Lyra, 
who sent me specimens of coarse granite, approaching to sienite, and 
quartz that he had taken from them, and which he informed me 
entered largely into their composition. 
But although unable to explore the productions of the land, 
I was rather unpleasantly convinced of the reputed property of 
one of those of the sea. Whilst employed in collecting some sea- 
weed floating about the ship, I observed a species of Pliysalia, 
so small and transparent that I at first mistook it for an air-bubble; 
but on catching it in my hand was soon convinced of my error, for 
wrapping its long tendrils round one of my fingers it stung like a 
nettle, but with much more severe effect. In about five minutes the 
pain in my finger abated, but an uneasy sensation extended up the 
inside of my arm, which soon terminated in an aching pain in the 
arm-pit, accompanied by a sense of restriction in my chest : within 
fifteen minutes all uneasiness ceased. The manner in which the 
animal produces these effects is, I believe, unexplained ; but it is 
not improbable that they are occasioned by a peculiar poison, secreted 
by it, and contained in a glutinous matter which covers its tendrils ; 
as this, when applied to the skin, apart from the animal, excites a 
smarting pain. 
