WRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 
117 
tawny waste was perceived extending right and 
left for miles ; and spotted teal were feeding at the 
margin of the water. But what is that mysterious 
object rolling and tumbling in the ripple of the 
tide ? We observe its motions for a short time 
with a curious eye, but on approaching perceive 
that it is an immense Ehizostoma, stranded and 
helpless, at the mercy of the waves. It was 
• certainly the Biggest jelly-fish I had ever seen, 
measuring three feet across the disk. The unfor- 
tunate Medusa had not only the misfortune to be 
wrecked, but had to suffer the still more dire 
calamity of being eaten, Chinamen came down, 
like Eiff pirates, or Cornish weekers, to the scene 
of the disaster, and cut off huge slices of the firm 
translucent blubber, and carefully wrapping them 
in cloths carried them away for gastronomic use. 
Doubtless their insipid mess of boiled rice was 
greatly improved thereby at evening chow-chow.” 
This is the only instance I have known of any of 
the Acalephse being used as food. 
On all the elevated breezy downs — and they are 
