The Winter Anthology — Machine for Compounding Chimeras

Several may often be standing on the back of a cow or horse; and while perched on a hedge, pluming themselves in the sun, they sometimes attempt to sing, or rather to hiss; the noise being very peculiar, resembling that of bubbles of air passing rapidly from a small orifice under water, so as to produce an acute sound.

When disturbed, it emits a very fine purplish-red fluid, which stains the water for the space of a foot. Besides this means of defence, an acrid secretion, spread over its body, causes a sharp, stinging sensation, similar to that produced by the Physalia, or Portuguese man-of-war.

This is the only butterfly which I have ever seen that uses its legs for running.

very frequently alights on the trunks of trees. Having remained in a distended state for a short time, it generally expels the air and water with considerable force from the branchial apertures and mouth. It could emit, at will, a certain portion of the water, and it appears, therefore, that this fluid partly regulates its specific gravity.

I am certain there is no error in the observation.

The largest gnawing animal in the world, the water-hog, a kind of sea-pen, is here also common.

Each polypus, closely tied to its brethren, has a distinct mouth, body, and tentacula. When viewed at a distance, from their manner of walking and colour they resemble pigs: but seated on their haunches, attentively watching with one eye, they reassume the appearance of their congeners, cavies, and rabbits. Of these polypi, in a large specimen, there must be many thousands; yet we see that they act by one movement: they have also one central axis connected with a system of obscure circulation, and the ova are produced in an organ distinct from the separate individuals. Well, may one be allowed to ask, what is an individual?