are highly venomous. The tiny sea snakes are very much at home in salt
water and are often seen far from land. (5)

Fortunately, these poisonous marine serpents are not plentiful but
their place is taken, especially in shallow waters, by a number of
creatures, which, though not exactly dangerous, can cause annoying pain
and irritation. The most common of those is the large jelly fish whose
pale, translucent tendrils are armed with rows of stinging cells. Then
there is the tropical Portuguese man-of-war whose translucent oblong
float rides the waves like an innocent soap bubble. (8 p. 785)

The Portuguese man-of-war is often spoken of as a colony of
individuals, But each of these individuals, which look like a cluster of
hair-like threads dangling from a bunch beneath the bubble, is adapted
for the work it must do. Some of the threads are reproduction organs,
others are designed for gathering food, but a large number are armed
with rows of poison darts used by paralyze their prey. Often attaining a
length of 40 or 50 feet, these lashes are capable of inflicting severe pain
as many an unwary bather can testify. The man-of-war gives no warning;
its touch is as light as the caress of a sunbeam. It is rarely, if ever, felt.
The skin, brushed by one of thee stinging lashes, quickens to burning
torture and is suffused by a rash of angry red but, happily for the victim,
the pain is for short duration. (6 p. 42)