90 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



seems as if some ancient world were shivered, that breath 

 might be infused into every fragment." 



The power that hydroid zoophytes, as well as not a few 

 other marine animals, have of emitting phosphorescent light, 

 is a very remarkable property. It has now been observed 

 by many, and is well deserving of even more attention than 

 it has yet received. 



" The luminous life 

 That makes the dark nocturnal ocean bright 

 With constellated clusters pf rare things 

 Group'd or apart ; seeming in lustrous grace, 

 Fantastic wreaths of many-coloured gems 

 Instinct \nth living fire : — or here and there 

 Glittering in golden glory : — flashing forth 

 Metallic white — or tremulous silver cinqued 

 By ambient tints of sapphire, pink, and blue ; 

 As if some opulent spirit of the sea 

 Had from his treasury of precious stones, 

 Flung up his choicest treasures on the waves 

 To bathe their beauties in the meek moonshine." 



This comprehends the various luminous bodies that en- 

 lighten the dark deep sea. Crabbers Muse, in her evening 

 walks by the sea-shore, had not failed to observe these 

 beautiful marine creatures, as we may see from the follow- 

 ing passage from ' The Borough,' which we shall quote, as it 



