16 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
in length to a foot, or more. I have often seen, 
individuals, in crossing the Atlantic at different 
times, but never any thing approaching to such num-^ 
bers as were here assembled. The animal consists 
of an oblong transparent membranous bladder, 
pinched up at the upper part into a kind of 
rumpled edge ; this edge is delicate pink, the 
bottom is fine blue, and both these colours are 
gradually blended into the clear membrane, the 
middle of which is colourless. From one end of 
the bottom proceeds a large bunch of tentacula, 
like strings ; the middle ones, two or three feet 
long, hanging down in the water ; these are of a 
brilliant purple hue : these support it in the water, 
and enable it to regain its upright position when 
overturned by the sea. The brilliance of the 
colours varies much, some being only of a pure 
white. They differ much also in beauty of form : 
in some the sail is merely a narrow ridge or border, 
in others it rises into a wide and semicircular 
membrane. The hanging tentacula have, in a very 
strong degree, the power of stinging the hand of 
any one who touches them, the effects of which 
are seriously violent. I think this little fairy 
creature is one of the most beautiful of the many 
beautiful things which old Neptune has in his 
cabinet of curiosities. When floating on the broad 
wave, its resemblance to a ship in full sail is very 
striking, and one wonders to see so frail a bark 
breasting the grim billows, as it would seem that 
every breaking sea must overwhelm it and dash it 
to pieces. Yet there it floats most gallantly, and 
continues to float in spite of wind and wave, now 
on the lofty crest, now in the deep hollow. Often 
when passing just under the lee of a vessel, the 
