[1] Madeira signifies, in the Portuguese language, “woody;” and the island was so named from the very wooded appearance it had on its discovery. [2] In summer, Horsburgh states that the north-east winds prevail, and a south-west current sets through the channel, between Madeira and the Desertas. The current along the south side of Madeira and the Desertas mostly sets to the leeward in strong gales; but at the conclusion of a gale, it sometimes changes suddenly, and sets contrary to the wind. [3] They are called “Guinea Ships” by the old navigators, from their floating like a vessel on the water, and from having very probably been first seen in great numbers about the coast and gulf of Guinea. [4] Mr. John Fuge, of Plymouth, informed me that he captured a specimen of the _Physalia pelagica_, in the Catwater, (Plymouth Sound,) a few years since, in the month of August; it was floating upon the surface of the water, and living when caught; he placed it in a glass globe of sea water, and preserved it for three weeks. The only motion he observed in the animal, was an occasional contraction and elongation of the beaked end of the bladder portion of the animal, and the tentaculæ were also drawn up and thrust forward. [5] Physalis tuberculosa, P. megalista, P. elongata, and P. pelagica, are the species given by Lamarck. (Sur les Animaux sans Vertèbres, tom. ii. p. 478.) [6] On the 5th of April, 1834, in latitude 29° 17′ north, and longitude 42° 57′ west, temperature of the atmosphere 68° to 72°, I caught in my towing net a very fine specimen of _Physalis pelagica_, adorned with the usual beautiful tints, but not so vivid as I have usually seen them. The specimen was the largest I had before witnessed. During the month of April, 1834, I observed specimens of this mollusca as far north as latitude 38° 32′ north, and longitude 34° 30′ west. The lowest range of the thermometer being 58°, and highest 72°. In March, 1831, I had seen them as far north as the latitude of the Azores or Western Islands. Often when we had very strong westerly winds, with a heavy sea running at the time, I saw them; yet not, to use a nautical expression, “furling sail” and sinking; this was sufficient to prove the absurdity of the opinion that they collapse and sink during stormy breezes. I have frequently seen them capsized by a wave, but almost instantly after regain their natural position. [7] “Praya” signifies, in the Portuguese language, “a beach or shore.”