Qjiej'ies and Answers. 2S5 



singular phenomenon, the luminousness of the sea, which I had the satis- 

 faction of seeing that evening in great perfection. As it became dusk, the 

 edges or divisions of the waves became luminous, and the spray from the 

 oars particularly so. When it became nearly dark, every disturbance of 

 the water gave out a brilliant flash of phosphoric light. By placing the 

 finger in the water it was seen to great advantage, and small particles of light 

 were perceived for several seconds, receding from the boat in the w ake thus 

 produced. Water taken up, and spilled on the floor of the boat, appeared 

 like so much mercury let fall by daylight, as the points of light diverged in 

 radii from the spot where the water fell. I had no opportunity of examin- 

 ing the water at that time, but a friend (the Kev. Wm. Foulger) procured 

 some for that purpose from the same locality, and we determined, by the 

 aid of the microscope, that the luminousness of the water of this part of 

 our coast proceeded from a small animalcule {Jig. 52. a) resembling that 



figured in Mr.Baird's paper (Vol. III. 

 p. 313. fig. 82. d). These appeared 

 in great numbers near the surface, 

 and arranged themselves round the 

 edge of the glass into which we 

 poured the water for examination. 

 They were sometimes so numerous, 

 and arranged with such order, as to resemble a string of beads. This 

 animalcule is a thin transparent globule, from the upper part of which 

 rises a small tube, in length about one diameter of the globule; a num- 

 ber of minute vessels diverge from the base of this tube, spreading thin 

 ramifications over the surface of the animalcule. We also detected 

 another animalcule (6 c rf), twice the size of the former, which appeared 

 to possess a greater degree of luminosity when agitated in the water. It 

 had the appearance of a hollow fleshy globule, having a retractile tube 

 arising from the bottom of the cavity, over which is a square aperture, and 

 at the angles of this aperture are placed four moniliform tentacula (c?), 

 which, when the animalcule is in a state of repose, are contracted into four 

 lobes (c). The exterior is divided longitudinally into eight parts, and is 

 studded with minute points. I should be glad if any of your correspondents 

 would inform me, through the medium of your pages, to what genus these 

 animalcules may be referred, and the work or works in which they are 

 figured or described. The first, I conceive, cannot possibly be a Medusa, 

 as stated by Mr. Baird. I am, &c. — Samuel Woodward. Norwich^ Nov, 8. 

 1830. 



The Aster which rolls back its Corolla, of which an imperfect specimen 

 has been sent us by M. A. Brown of Walsal, appears to be the Kaulfussia 

 «mell6ides. The circumstance of its rolling back its marginal petals during 

 overcast weather is a peculiarity ; most plants closing their petals in such 

 weather over the flower. — Cond. 



Epidendrwnfnscdtuni. — The orchideous specimen sent us by A Constant 

 Reader is not a parasite, as he supposes, but an epiphyte. A parasite grows 

 into the living trees as does the mistletoe; an epiphyte grows upon the 

 outer bark or rotten wood of a tree. The specimen sent is the Epidendrum 

 (epiy upon, dendron, a tree; place of growth) fuscatum, an orchideous 

 epiphyte. It is a stove plant of easy culture in rotten tan, with a strong 

 moist heat. — Cond. 



The Constituents of Bezoar. — Sir, As your, correspondent, A Mine- 

 ralogist (p. 9C.), wishes to know of what substances the bezoar is com- 

 posed, I have drawn up a short account of the different varieties, according 

 to the analysis of MM. Vauquelin and Fourcroy, published by them in the 

 Annates de Chimie (see Ure''s Diet.), and the animals in which each parti- 

 cular kind is said to be found. Bezoars have been found in the intestines,. 



