Mr. Martin on the Felis Darwinii. 213 



and small specimens, the large with the naked eye and the small 

 under a powerful lens, I could not detect any one peculiar secreting 

 organ for this luminous excretion. 



" It has often occurred during the voyage that the ocean became 

 suddenly brilliantly luminous, and at other times merely a constant 

 succession of scintillations were visible. Again, it was remarked 

 that no luminosity of the ocean was visible except what proceeded 

 from the wake of the ship, the other parts of the ocean exhibiting no 

 phosphorescence. 



" On the 15th of April, 1835, in lat. 8° 45' north, and longitude 

 21° 02' west, during the day large quantities of a beautiful pink 

 Medusa were taken in the towing net, which species I was pre- 

 viously aware possessed luminous powers, and as expected, at night 

 the ocean was brilliantly luminous, which luminosity continued until 

 about 8 P.M., after which time it had almost totally disappeared. 

 During the time the phosphorescence was visible, the Medusa before 

 mentioned was captured in large numbers, but on the disappearance 

 of the luminosity no more were caught, evidently showing that the 

 phosphorescence of the sea this evening was occasioned by their 

 l)resence. I have frequently remarked that when the ocean appears 

 brilliantly luminous, besides the animals producing the phosphores- 

 cence, several crustaceous animals and a number of small fish are 

 usually taken in large quantities : the presence of these may proceed 

 from their being attracted by the phosphoric light. Sometimes 

 during heavy rains within the tropics the sea would become suddenly 

 luminous, as rapidly passing off again, and the effect of the sudden 

 transitions was exceedingly splendid to the beholders. During its 

 continuance luminous species of Salpa, Bero'ty Pyrosoma, and other 

 molluscs were captured in the towing net if the weather admitted of 

 its being placed overboard." 



On placing some of these luminous Medusa in a bucket of water, 

 Mr. Bennett observed that the phosphoric light is not emitted from 

 any one particular part of the animal, but commences at different 

 points, gradually extending over the whole body, sometimes suddenly 

 disappearing, and at others slowly dying away. Upon squeezing the 

 animal the hands became covered with a profusion of the luminous 

 secretion, which could be communicated from one object to another. 

 In conclusion several additional instances are related, occurring in 

 different latitudes, of the beautiful and varied appearances presented 

 by the phaenomena of marine phosphorescence*. 



Mr. Martin directed the attention of the Meeting to three speci- 

 mens of the genus Felis, recently presented to the Society by Charles 

 Darwin, Esq. One of these appeared to be a cat of the domestic race, 

 shot in a wild state at Maldonado, differing only from our common 

 cat in the elongation and greater size of the head. Tlie second was 

 the ** Chat Pampa " of Azara, Felis Pajeros of Desmarest, shot at 



• On the subject of this paper see Prof. Macartney's Memoir in Phil. 

 Mag., First Series, vol. xxxvii. p. 24; Mr.D. Sharpe's notice in Phil. Mag. 

 and Annals, N.S., vol. ix. p. 144; also Mr. Brayley's paper in Lond. and 

 Edinb. Phil. Mag., vol. vi. p. 241. 



