COO SALPIDiE. 



In a squall at sea M. Peron first saw the phosphorescence 

 of the Pyrosomes. " Suddenly," says he, "we discovered at 

 some distance a great phosphorescent band stretched across 

 the waves and occupying an immense tract in advance 

 of the ship. Heightened by the surrounding circumstances, 

 the effect of this spectacle was romantic, imposing, sublime, 

 rivetting the attention of all on board. Soon we reached 

 the illuminated tract, and perceived that the prodigious 

 brightness was certainly and only attributable to the 

 presence of an innumerable multitude of largish animals 

 floating with the waves. From their swimming at different 

 depths they took apparently different forms ; those at the 

 greatest depth were very indefinite, presenting much of the 

 appearance of great masses of fire, or rather of enormous 

 red-hot cannon-balls ; whilst those more distinctly seen near 

 the surface perfectly resembled incandescent cylinders of 

 iron." 



Species of Pyrosoma. 



Atlanticuni, Peron. giganteum, Sav 



eleeans, Lesueur. 



Fam. SALPID.E. 

 Animal free, pelagian, in the form of a more or less 

 cylindrical tube open at one or both ends ; test and mantle 

 continuous with one another at the respiratory apertures, 

 but elsewhere separated by a wide space ; gill forming a 

 hollow band crossing the respiratory cavity ; anal orifice 

 terminating close above, and to the right side of, the mouth. 

 Alternately solitary and aggregated. 



