Mr. Patterson on the Cydippe Pomiformis. 103 



retained its yellow colour for twenty-four hours afterwards ; and though it 

 gradually became fainter, it was very perceptible even at the expiration of forty- 

 eight hours. 



Lamarck observes, " Les Beroes sont tres-phosphoriques ; ils brillent pendant 

 la nuit, comme autant de lumieres suspendues dans les eux ; et leur clarte est 

 d'autant plus vive que leurs movemens sont plus rapides."* Blainville, in his 

 general remarks on the family of "les Ciliogrades," describes them as "agitant 

 continuellement les cils dont leur corps tres contractile est pourvu, organes qui 

 jouissent les la faculte phosphorescente au plus haut degre ;"f thus attributing 

 the effect to the action of the cilia, rather than to any innate power possessed by 

 the animal. That at least one British Beroe was endowed with a high degree of 

 phosphorescence, was established by Dr. Macartney's description of B. Fulgens, 

 taken by him in Hearne Bay, coast of Kent.J The same species was observed 

 by the late John Templeton, Esq., " floating in with the waves on the shore of 

 Dundrum Bay," County of Down.§ The phosphorescent quality does not, 

 however, seem to prevail universally ; at least I have never been able to detect 

 its presence, though I have frequently for that purpose taken a glass con- 

 taining Beroes into a darkened room. My hope of observing it was renewed 

 by the following passage in a paper by Mr. F. D. Bennett, || " Fresh water 

 appears to act as a powerful and permanent stimulus on marine Noctilucae. 

 Those which have intervals of repose from their phosphorescence, immediately 

 emit their light when brought in contact with fresh water, and this fact was very 

 strikingly exhibited in the Pyrosomata. * * * * When also the same Molluscs 

 were mutilated, or so near death as to refuse to emit light upon irritation in sea 

 water, immersing them in fresh water produced at least a temporary revival of 

 their brightest gleam ; indeed I have always felt assured that the contact of fresh 

 water, in a darkened room, would ever elicit the luminous power of a marine 

 creature, were the latter of a luminous nature." Acting on the suggestion here 

 given, I took some Beroes into a darkened room, and transferred them to a jar 



* Animaux sans Vertebres, tome ii. p. 469. •}■ Manuel, p. 143. 



% Phil. Trans. 1810, p. 264. 



§ Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. ix. p. 303. In the same article the following occurs : " Beroe Mull. 

 Pileus Gm. occasionally detected in our deep bays." We cannot from this brief record determine 

 whether the C. Pileus or Pomiformis is the species alluded to. 



II Proceedings Zool. Soc, June 13, 1837. 



