THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 159 
“These frail voyagers are often found of 
immense size, sometimes weighing even tons. 
They seem to possess bodies of quite a sub¬ 
stantial character, but it is only seeming; for 
if left to decay in the sun, the largest will leave 
scarcely an ounce of earthy remains; they are, 
in fact, little more than organized water. In 
many parts of the southern seas these Meduscz 
are met with in vast fleets when the surface is 
calm and warm; but, extended as they may 
be, they seem to act by a common impulse, 
for, let but a chance cloud obscure the sun or 
a rough gust disturb the water, and the whole 
multitude vanishes in a moment. Beautiful and 
frail as they seem, if their graceful tentacles are 
meddled with, they have power severely to re¬ 
sent the affront by filling the hand of the dis¬ 
turber with a multitude of sharp stings that 
greatly irritate and inflame the flesh. From 
this propensity they have received the very ap¬ 
propriate name of sea-nettles. How wonder¬ 
fully God provides the frailest of his creatures 
with weapons which make the strongest stand 
in wholesome fear of them! 
“ One of the most dainty sea-navigators is 
the delicate little Cydippe, but, being so minute 
