the Phosphorescence of Zoophytes. 259 



ophytes were constantly drenched. When the second night 

 had set in, I thought I would try whether there were any 

 symptoms of remaining life. I shook Laomedea geniculata, 

 but its tiny fires were quenched. Membranipora stellata 

 lighted up just one bright star ; and Flustra membranacea 

 shed one faint gleam of light, and refused to repeat the fire, 

 however much shaken. 



About a week after, I brought home a fresh supply ; and 

 on repeating the experiment, not only did the Zoophytes 

 sparkle, but my fingers in handling them became brilliant, 

 being adorned with little stars. 



The next time I made trial of these ee minims " was in the 

 end of October, when a very frosty morning had been suc- 

 ceeded by a very sunny day. On that occasion Sertularia po- 

 lyzonias, Cellularia reptans, Flustra membranacea, and Mem- 

 branipora stellata would emit no light. As the specimens 

 had lain for hours on the shore exposed to the morning frost 

 and the midday sun, it is probable that the polypes were dead. 

 Laomedea geniculata was taken up quite moist and fresh, ha- 

 ving been covered with sea-weeds ; and when the darkness of 

 evening came, not only did they brightly sparkle when roughly 

 handled, but they emitted a strong smell of phosphorus. On 

 being allowed to rest, they immediately ceased to be luminous ; 

 and though on being shaken or pressed with the fingers 

 they shone forth again, if often repeated the light became 

 fainter. 



On this occasion I made an experiment with a creature 

 belonging to another department. Having found a very large 

 specimen of Botryllus Schlosseri, one of the Mollusca tuni- 

 cata, I subjected it to the experimentum cruets by shaking it 

 roughly in the dark, and I had the satisfaction of seeing that 

 it was as much disposed as the Zoophytes to resent the in- 

 sult. In this case, however, it was not the sparkling wrath of 

 a pigmy multitude, but the overspreading glow of one massy 

 creature, which all shone, though with a lurid and sullen- 

 looking fire. 



The last time I repeated the experiment was in the begin- 

 ning of the present month of November. I tried Sertularia 

 pumila, the Zoophyte mentioned by Mr. Stewart as phospho- 

 rescent ; but though roughly shaken, it remained dark. I was 

 equally unsuccessful with several others ; but the tiny polypes 

 had lain for hours on the shore, under a November sky, and 

 the spark of life I suppose had become extinct. A specimen 

 of Laomedea geniculata, which from being covered was quite 

 fresh, was as brilliant as usual, and emitted as formerly its 

 phosphoric odour. I tried for the first time the elegant Pin- 



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