76 THE OCEAN. 



to the tip, representing the vane. Along the upper 

 edge of each of these pinnce are placed the cells, 

 inhabited by minute, white, eight- rayed Polypes. 

 The stem contains a long, needle-shaped bone, very 

 slender at each extremity, which is bent backwards 

 so as to form a hook. Some authors have affirmed 

 that the Sea-pen swims freely in the sea by the 

 waving motion of its pinna; but modern observa- 

 tions tend to throw discredit on this statement, 

 which in itself 'seems improbable : the fishermen 

 affirm that it abides with its stern inserted in the 

 mud at the bottom ; and those which have been 

 kept for observation have remained at the bottom 

 of the vessel, without any apparent power of even 

 turning over on the other side. This species, as 

 its scientific name imports, is one of the many ani- 

 mals that inhabit the sea, which are endowed with 

 the faculty of producing light : in this instance, it 

 appears from experiments that the power is exerted 

 as a means of defence, as only when injured or irri- 

 tated does the animal give out its light, which is of 

 a faint-bluish cast. Its sudden illumination at the 

 bottom of the sea may have the effect of terrifying 

 some of its enemies, and of thus protecting it from 

 the dangers to which its otherwise helpless frame 

 would be exposed. 



