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bag, and turning it into the body. The motions of these creatures in the water were slow and graceful, and not accompanied by any visible contraction of their bodies. After death they always subsided to the bottom of the vessel.

From the sparkling light afforded by this species, I shall distinguish it by the name of medusa scintillans.

The night following that on which I discovered the preceding animal, I caught the two other luminous species. One of these I shall call the beroe fulgens.

This most elegant creature is of a colour changing between purple, violet, and pale blue; the body is truncated before, and pointed be hind; but the form is difficult to assign, as it is varied by partial contractions, at the animal's pleasure, I have represented the two extremes of form that I have seen this creature assume: the first is somewhat that of a cucumber, which, as being the one it takes when at rest, should perhaps be considered as its proper shape: the other resembles a pear, and is the figure it has in the most contracted state. The body is hollow, or forms internally an infundibular cavity, which has a wide opening before, and appears also to have a small aperture posteriorly, through which it discharges its excrement. The posterior twothirds of the body are ornamented with eight longitudinal ciliated ribs, the processes of which are kept in such a rapid rotatory motion, while the animal is swimming, that they appear like the continual passage of a fluid along the ribs. The ciliated ribs have been described by Professor Mitchell, as arteries, in a luminous beroe, which I suspect was no other than the species I am now giving an account of.

When the beroe fulgens swam

gently near the surface of the water, its whole body became occasionally illuminated in a slight degree; during its contractions a stronger light issued from the ribs; and when a sudden shock was communicated to the water, in which several of these animals were placed, a vivid flash was thrown out. If the body were broken, the fragments continued luminous for some seconds, and being rubbed on the hand, left a light like that of phosphorus; this however, as well as every other mode of emitting light, ceased after the death of the animal.

The hemispherical species that I discovered, had a very faint purple colour. The largest that I found measured about three quarters of an inch in diameter. The margin of the umbella was undivided, and surrounded internally by a row of pale brown spots, and numerous small twisted tentacula; four opaque lines crossed in an arched manner from the circumference, towards the centre of the animal: an opaque irregular-shaped process hung down from the middle of the umbella; when this part was examined with a lens of high powers, I discovered that it was inclosed in a sheath in which it moved, and that the extremity of the process was divided into four tentacula, covered with lit tle cups or suckers, like those on the tentacula of the cuttle-fish.

This species of medusa bears a striking resemblance to the figures of the medusa hemispherica, published by Gonovius and Muller; indeed it differs as little from these figures, as they do from each other. Its luminous property, however, was not observed by these naturalists, which is the more extraordinary; as Muller examined it at night, and says it is so transparent, that it can only be seen with the light of a lamp. If it should be still consi

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dered as a distinct species, or as a variety of the hemispherica, I would propose to call it the medusa lucida.

In this species, the central part and the spot round the margin, are commonly seen to shine on lifting the animal out of the water into the air, presenting the appearance of an illuminated wheel, and when it is exposed to the usual percussion of the water, the transparent parts of its body are alone luminous.

In the month of September, 1805, I again visited Herne Bay, and frequently had opportunities of witnessing the luminous appearance of the sea. I caught many of the hemispherical and minute species of medusa, but not one of the beroe fulgens. I observed that these luminous animals always retreated from the surface of the water, as soon as the moon rose. I found also, that exposure to the day-light took away their property of shining which was revived by placing them for some time in a dark situation.

In that season I had two opportunities of seeing an extended illumination of the sea, produced by the above animals. The first night I saw this singular phenomenon was extremely dark; many of the medusa scintillans and medusa hemispherica had been observed at lowwater, but on the return of the tide, they had suddenly, disappeared. On looking towards the sea, I was astonished to perceive a flash of light of about six yards broad, extend from the shore, for apparently the dis. tance of a mile and a half along the surface of the water. The second time that I saw this sort of light proceed from the sea, it did not take the same form, but was diffused over the surface of the waves next the shore, and was so strong, that I could for the moment distinctly see my servant, who stood at a Kittle

distance from me: he also perceived it, and called out to me at the same instant. On both these occasions the flash was visible for about four or five seconds, and although I watched for it a considerable time, I did not see it repeated.

A diffused luminous appearance of the sea, in some respects different from what I have seen, has been described by several navigators.

Godeheu de Riville saw the sea assume the appearance of a plain of snow on the coast of Malabar.

Captain Horsburgh, in the notes he gave to Sir Joseph Banks, says, there is a peculiar phenomenon sometimes seen within a few degrees distance of the coast of Malabar, during the rainy monsoon, which he had an opportunity of observing. At midnight the weather was cloudy, and the sea was particularly dark, when suddenly it changed to a white flaming colour all around. This bore no resemblance to the sparkling or glowing appearance he had observed on other occasions in seas near the equator, but was a regular white colour, like milk, and did not continue more than ten minutes. A similar phenomenon, he says, is fre quently seen in the Banda sea, and is very alarming to those who have never perceived or heard of such an appearance before.

This singular phenomenon appears to be explained by some observations communicated to me by Mr. Langstaff, a surgeon in the city, who formerly made several voyages. In going from New Holland to China, about half an hour after sunset, every person on board was astonished by a milky appearance of the sea: the ship seemed to be surrounded by ice covered with snow. Some of the company supposed they were

* Mem. Etrang. de l'Acad. des Sec, Tom. 3.

in soundings, and that coral bottom gave this curious reflection; but on sounding with 70 fathoms of line, no bottom was met with. A bucket of water being hauled up. Mr. Langstaff examined it in the dark, and discovered a great number of globular bodies, each about the size of a pin's head, linked together. The chains thus formed did not exceed three inches in length, and emitted a pale phosphoric light. By introducing his hand into the water, Mr. Langstaff raised upon it several chains of the luminous globules, which were separated by opening the fingers, but readily re-united on being brought again into contact, like globales of quicksilver. The globules, he says, were so transparent, that they could not be perceived when the hand was taken into the light.

This extraordinary appearance of the sea was visible for two nights. As soon as the moon exerted her influence, the sea changed to its natural dark colour, and exhibited distinct glittering points, as at other times. The phenomenon, he says, had never been witnessed before by any of the company on board, although some of the crew bad been two or three times round the globe.

1 consider this account of Mr. Langstaff very interesting and im portant, as it proves that the diffused light of the sea is produced by an assemblage of minute medusæ on the surface of the water.

In June, 1806, I found the sea at Margate more richly stored with the small luminous medusa, than I have ever seen it. A bucket of the water being set by for some time, the animals sought the surface, and kept up a continual sparkling, which must have been occasioned by the motions of individuals, as the water was perfectly at rest. A small quanity of the luminous water was put

into a glass jar, and on standing some time, the medusa collected at the top of the jar, and formed a gelatinous mass, one inch and a half thick, and of a reddish or mud colour, leaving the water underneath perfectly clear.

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In order to ascertain if these animals would materially alter then size, or assume the figure of any other known species of medusæ, I kept them alive for 25 days, by carefully changing the water which they were placed; during which time, although they appeared as vigorous as when first taken, their form was not in the slightest degree altered, and their size but little increased. By this experi mept I was confirmed in the opinion of their being a distinct species, as the young actinia and medusæ exbibit the form of the parent in a much shorter period than the above.

In September, 1806, I took at Sandgate a number of the beroe fulgens, but no other species: they were of various dimensions, from the full size down to that of the me dusa scintillans: they could however be clearly distinguished from the later species, by their figure.

Since that time, I have frequently met with the medusa scintillans on different parts of the coast of Sussex, at Tenby, and at Milford ha ven. I have likewise seen this spe cies in the bays of Dublin and Car lingford, in Ireland.

In the month of April, last year, I caught a number of the bero ful gens in the sea at Hastings; they were of various sizes, from about the balf of an inch in length to the bulk of the head of a large pin. I found many of them adhering together in the sea; some of the larger sort were covered with small ones, which fell off when the animals were handled, and by a person unaccustomed to observe these creatures, would

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have been taken for a phosphoric substance. On putting a number of them into a glass, containing clear sea water, they still shewed a disposition to congregate upon the surface. I observed that when they adhered together, they shewed no contractile motion in any part of their body, which explains the cause of the pale or white colour of the diffused light of the ocean. The flashes of light which I saw come from the sea at Herne bay, were probably produced by a sudden and general effort of the medusa to separate from each other, and descend in the water.

The medusa scintillans almost constantly exists in the different branches of Milford haven that are called pills. I have sometimes found these animals collected in such vast numbers in those situations, that they bore a considerable proportion to the volume of the water in which they were contained: thus, from a gallon of sea-water in a luminous state, I have strained above a pint of these medusæ. I have found the sea under such circumstances to yield me more support in swimming, and the water to taste more disagreeably than usual; probably the difference of density, that has been remarked at different times in the water of the sea, may be referred to this

cause.

All my own observations lead me to conclude, that the medusa scintillans, is the most frequent source of the light of the sea around this country, and by comparing the accounts of others with each other, and with what I have myself seen, I am persuaded that it is so likewise in other parts of the world. Many observers appear to have mistaken this species for the nereis noctiluca, which was very natural, as they were prepossessed with the idea of the frequent existence of the one,

and had no knowledge of the other. Some navigators have actually described this species of medusa, without being aware of its nature. Mr. Bajon, during his voyage from France to Cayenne, collected many luminous points in the sea, whichi, he says, when examined by a lens, were found to be minute spheres. They disappeared in the air. Doctor Le Roy, in sailing from Naples to France, observed the sparkling appearance of the sea, which is usu ally produced by the medusa scintillans. By filtering the water, he separated luminous particles from it, which he preserved in spirits of wine they were, he says, like the head of a pin, and did not at all resemble the nereis noctiluca, described by Vianelli; their colour ap proached a yellow-brown, and their substance was extremely tender, and fragile. Notwithstanding this

striking resemblance to the medusa scintillans, Le Roy, in consequence of a preconceived theory, did not suppose what he saw were animals, but particles of an oily or bituminous nature*.

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The minute globules seen by Mr. Langstaff in the Indian ocean, were, I think, in all probability, the sciutillating species of medusa; and on my shewing him some of these animals I have preserved in spirits, he entertained the same opinion.

Professor Mitchell, of New York, found the luminous appearance on the coast of America, to be occa sioned by minute animals, that from his description, plainly belonged to this species of medus, notwithstanding which, he supposed them to be a number of the nereis noctilucat.

The luminous animacile discover.

• Observ. sur un lumiere produite par L'Eau de la mer. Mem. Etrang, des Sc. ↑ Phil. Mag. Vol. X. p, 20.

ed by Forster off the Cape of Good Hope, in his Voyage round, the World, bears so strong a resemblance to the medusa scintillans, that I am much disposed to believe then the same. He describes his animalcule as being a little gelatinous globule, less than the head of a pin; transparent, but a little brownish in its colour; and of so soft a texture that it was destroyed by the slightest touch, On being highly magnified, he perceived on one side a depression, in which there was a tube that passed into the body, and commuuicated with four or five intestinal sacs. The pencil drawings he made on the spot, are in the possession of Sir Joseph Banks, by whose permission, engravings from them are subjoined to this paper. By comparing these with the representations of the medusa scintillans, and some of this species rendered visible, by being a long time preserv ed in spirits, which I have laid before this learned society, it will be found, that the only difference between Forster's animalcule, and the medusa scintillans, is in the appearance of the opaque parts, shewn in the microscopic views.

Many writers have ascribed the light of the sea to other causes than luminous animals. Martin supposed it to be occasioned by putrefaction; Silberschlag believed it to be phosphoric; Professor J. Mayer conjectured that the surface of the sea imbided light, which it afterwards discharged. Bajon and Gentil thought the light of the sea was electric, because it was excited by friction. Forster conceived that it was sometimes electric, sometimes caused from putrefaction, and at others by the presence of living animals. Fougeroux de Fondaroy believed that it came sometimes from electric fires, but more frequently from the

putrefaction of marine animals and plants.

I shall not trespass on the time of the Society to refute the above speculations; their authors have left them unsupported by either argó ments or experiments, and they are inconsistent with all ascertained facts upon this subject.

The remarkable property of emit. ting light during life, is only met with amongst animals of the for last classes of modern naturalists, viz. Mollusca, Insects, Worms, and Zoophytes.

The mollusca and worms contain each but a single luminous speciesy the pholas dactylus in the one, and the nereis noctiluca in the other.

Some species yield light, in the eight following genera of insects: elater, lampyris, fulgora, pansus, scolopendra, cancer, lynceus*, and limulas. The luminous species of the genera lampyris and fulgora are more numerous than is generally supposed, if we may judge from the appearance of luminous organs, to be seen in dried specimens.

Amongst zoophytes we find that the genera medusa, beroet, and pennatula, contain species which afford light.

The only animals which appear to possess a distinct organization for the production of light, are the hminous species of lampyris, elater, fulgora, and pausus.

The light of the lampy rides is known to proceed from some of the last rings of the abdomen, which, when not illuminated, are of a pale

The animal discovered by Riville off the coast of Malabar in 1754, is certainly a testaceous insect, and appears to belong to the genus lynceus of Muller.

The luminous zoophyte for which Peron has lately instituted the new genus pyrosoma, appears to me to be a beroe, and only worthy of a specific distinction.

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