z6 Animalcular Thofphorefccncc of Octan Water. 



warmer than the fluid in which they fvvim. Still it is not 

 to be denied, that in the decomposition of that triple fluid 

 there may he an evolution of caloric fufficient for the ceco- 

 nomv of creatures fo fmall, and of a ftrucTure fo nice and 

 exquifite as thefe, and yet not be meafurable by our ther- 

 mometers ; and that oxygen may mingle with their fluids in 

 due quantity. And it may be eafily conceived, that during 

 the procefs light may be evolved, mfficient, in rapidity and 

 quantity within them, to occafion, by tranfmiflion through 

 their pellucid forms, the phaenomena of thefe and all other 

 luminous oceanic meteors. 



The animalcular origin of this phaenomena is corroborated 

 by this additional coniideration. At the time when the fait 

 water is remarkably luminous in fome places, there is very 

 little of it to be feen in others, though but a few rods diftam. 

 At fuch times, I found that by taking up parcels of the water, 

 and viewing it, there were abundance of lucid points in thofe 

 which were moit luminous, and but few in thofe which were 

 feebly fo. The light proceeding from thefe invifible intejli- 

 ?ias, when nearly and narrowly examined, radiates from num- 

 berlefs mining particles or centres; and, when viewed from a 

 diftance too remote to permit thefe lucid centres to be feen, 

 the effeft produced on the organ of vifion is a general and 

 weaker impreflion, as if every drop of water was luminous, 

 by reafon of fomething chemically diflblved in it. 



The fame creatures are not capable of emitting light for a 

 long continuance of time. If fhaken, touched, or agitated, 

 their luminous faculty foon becomes cxhaufted, and the water 

 in which they float immediately returns to its ordinary co- 

 lour. This is fo much the cafe, that if a very luminous 

 portion of water (I do not mean a current) be much moved 

 by the limbs of feveral perfons fwimming or wading in it, its 

 huninous quality will in a few minutes be fenfibly diminished. 

 Therefore, when. a boat is rowed along, or a fhip is moved 

 by tfie wind, or when a ftream rumes over rocks, or againft 

 any kind of obftacle, the light emitted in fuch inftances is 

 produced by a fuceeffibn of animals, each of which, on being 

 tlimulated, evolves, in its turn, a certain proportion and dura- 

 tion of light, and in this manner gives continuance or per- 

 manency to the phsenomenon. 



In October 1772, Mr. Forfter obferved the fouthern ocean, 

 beyond the Cape of Good Hope, illuminated in a fimilar 

 manner. (Voyage round the World by Cook and Forfter, 

 vol. iii. p. 45.) The curious inquirer will be (truck with the 

 correfpondtnee of the phaenomena off Table-Bay, and thofe 

 m Long-Maiid Sound. The circumnavigator afcribed the 



luminous 



