Rare and remarkable animals of Scotland, represented from living subjects: with practical observations on their nature . the Sea nettle; and many accounts are given of the injury sus-tained from contact with it in those seas where it abounds. I acknow-ledge that I was long incredulous, especially because many may be handledwith impunity, and from distrusting fishermen, who are too often addictedto exaggeration. A friend of undoubted veracity, assured me that havingcome in contact with some Medusae, while bathing in the estuary of theForth, violent inflammation of the skin ensued, which was acc
Rare and remarkable animals of Scotland, represented from living subjects: with practical observations on their nature . the Sea nettle; and many accounts are given of the injury sus-tained from contact with it in those seas where it abounds. I acknow-ledge that I was long incredulous, especially because many may be handledwith impunity, and from distrusting fishermen, who are too often addictedto exaggeration. A friend of undoubted veracity, assured me that havingcome in contact with some Medusae, while bathing in the estuary of theForth, violent inflammation of the skin ensued, which was accompaniedby a serious attack of fever. I have no doubt, however, that several of themost marvellous narratives have come from those persons who were morealarmed than hurt, by finding themselves suddenly in so disagreeable aneighbourhood as amidst a number of Medusse. It is not evident thatthese creatures employ any of their external flexible organs purposely to injure. Although the specimen above quoted as eight inches in diameterseemed sufficiently vigorous, it could be kept only a few days from decay. V. I. \y(A,c/.U/^-f:{/>^ HYDRA. 103 There seems a natural delicacy incident to the whole tribe in confine-ment ; nor have I been able to preserve any adult individual above a monthin activity. This specimen being removed from its vessel on August 25, a quan-tity of brownish matter like dust remained at the bottom. Subjected tothe microscope, it proved an host of animated creatures in quick and variedmotion. But to the naked eye they were hardly perceptible,—the merestspecks, infinitely minute,—nor by an ordinary lens could their propor-tions be discovered. Higher powers, next resorted to, shewed them white, opaque, andfleshy, tending to an elliptical form, though very mutable, one extremitygenerally broader than the other, with which each individual made its wayamong the multitude of its fellows. Although such be the real and natural figure of the animal in vigoura
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1847
