Aiiimalcular Vbofphorefcence of Ocean Water. 27 



luminous appearance of the fea water, in 34 degrees fouth 

 latitude, to animals of the fame genus which caiifed it in 

 40 40 north. He favv the ocean luminous in 58 fouth, 

 during March 1773, while the weather was tempeftuous, and 

 fo cold that the quickfilver in the thermometer was as low as 

 33~ c atnoon. Thus it appears thefe creatures can live in 

 water of any temperature ahove the freezing point. (IB. p. 97.) 

 An opinion has heen entertained, that, during the mining 

 of the fun, its ravs are abforbed by the ocean, and that the 

 extrication of them again makes its water luminous. It has 

 been conjectured, too, that the water of the ocean becomes 

 occafionally fo highly electrical, that the brightnefs it mani- 

 fefts is but the evidence of a high charge of electricity- There 

 has been publifhed, too, an idea that the pllofphoric matter 

 extricated from putrefying fifh in the ocean, was the caufe 

 of this marine refplendenee. And others have even been in- 

 clined to think that the light proceeded from fome attrition of 

 faline particles again ft each other, or fome unknown combi- 

 nations formed among them. The true caufe of the phaeno- 

 menon, I am inclined to conclude, is neither of thefe, but 

 univerfally, as far as my knowledge of the fubject extends, is 

 a function of animals. Thefe are often confpicuous in tem- 

 pers, when 



High o'er the poop the audacious fcas afpire, 

 Upruil'd in hills of fluctuating fire- Falconer. 



And though the timid may be imprelTed with additional 

 Alarm at this appearance, 



Not fo the man of philofophic eye 



And infpeft lage; the waving brightnefs he 



Curious furveys. inquiiitivovto know 



The caufes and materials, yet untix'd, 



Of this appeai ance beautiful Thomson . 



It is remarkable how far thefe creatures, on fome occatlonF, 

 are carried up our rivers. During the drought of the year 

 1796, when fea crabs were plentifully caught in ;he Hudfon 

 as high as Poughkeepfie (eighty miles from New- York), the 

 water of the river was luminous in the neighbourhood of PoL 

 JepelTs ifland, as I failed through the Highlands one dark 

 night. 



I forbear to trace the analogies between thefe aquatic ani- 

 mals and the numerous aerial fpeeies which emit light. 

 Leaving thefe to your fagacity and penetration, I have only 

 to cpncludc by renewing the affurances of my refpeel:. 



SAMUEL L. MITCH ILL. 



I^edar-Grove, Oct. 1. iSco. 



IV. Re- 



