LUMINOSITY OF THE SEA. 47 



glides along, still spreading as it flows, until it laves 

 the sands with light, and then slowly retiring, leaves 

 a track of shining sparkles glittering on the strand. 

 If witnessed from a boat, or from a steamer's deck, 

 the scene is still more wonderful : the heaving waves 

 around appear to burn like phosphorus, emitting pale 

 and ghostly splendour; the silent oars are raised 

 dripping with living diamonds ; or if a hand should 

 be immersed in the refulgent water and again with- 

 drawn, the glowing sparks, like tiny stars, stick to its 

 surface, or are shaken off in brilliant scintillations. 

 The splashing wheels stir up a sheet of light; the 

 wake of the vessel flames behind as if it were the tail 

 of some vast rocket, and the labouring ship appears 

 to wallow in a fiery foam. 



In our own climate, however, this luminous ap- 

 pearance is seldom witnessed in such perfection ; more 

 frequently, when the water is slightly agitated by the 

 winds and currents, it only shows itself in scattered 

 sparkles mingled with the spray of the sea, and in the 

 froth created by the way of the ship. These sparkles 

 or luminous points vary in magnitude, and often con- 

 tinue to shine for some moments as they pass the 

 sides of the vessel or follow in its track. The kind 

 of light thus exhibited is sometimes extremely bril- 

 liant, almost emulating that of the azure, gold, and 

 silver rain of the pyrotechnist : 



" Beyond the shadow of the ship 

 I watch'd the water-snakes : 

 They moved in tracks of shining white ; 

 And when they rear'd, the elfish light 

 Fell off in hoary flakes. 



