AKTHOZOA HYDROIDA. 93 



were treated tenderly, and placed in a huge vasculum, and 

 in it conveyed to our quarters. The zoophytes parasitic on 

 Algse^ brought home in the same way, made their positions 

 known by exhibiting their tender and beautiful lights/' 

 My friend, Mr. Hassall, has the following interesting re- 

 marks, in the ' Annals of Natural History,' and there states 

 that he had ascertained that all the transparent zoophytes 

 possess highly luminous properties. ^' This fact," he sub- 

 joins, " I first discovered in a specimen of Laomedea gela- 

 tinosa, and subsequently in a great variety of other species. 

 If a portion of it, adhering to the seaweed to wdiich it is 

 attached, be taken from the water and agitated, a great 

 number of bright phosphorescent sparks will be emitted; 

 these sparks proceed from each of the denticles of the 

 coralline containing polypi, and the phenomenon is equally 

 apparent whether the specimen be in or out of water. I 

 lately had an opportunity of beholding this novel and 

 interesting sight of the phosphorescence of zoophytes to 

 great advantage, when on board one of the Devonshire 

 trawling-boats, which frequent this coast. The trawl was 

 raised at midnight, and great quantities of corallines were 

 entangled in the meshes of the network, all shining like 

 myriads of the brightest diamonds.'' A still more striking 



