236 ANIMALS OF LAND AND SEA 



the Andamans in 5532 feet of water the span of whose lanky 

 legs was nearly 20 inches. The creature as it lay on its back 

 shone like a star, all its legs being lit along their under surface 

 with a strong greenish blue radiance. 



Among the molluscs some squid and octopus found along 

 the coasts gleam all over with a whitish light, and some shallow 

 water squid have special light organs. None of the octopus 

 from the deeper water are known to shine; but many of the 

 deeper water squid have most elaborate light emitting organs 

 ri\'aling those of fishes. In one of these there are 24 such 

 organs; each of the elongate arms bears two; there are five 

 around the lower border of each eye; and the remainder are 

 on the lower surface of the body. Professor Chun describes 

 this creature as set with a diadem of variegated jewels, some 

 brilliant blue, some mother-of-pearl, and some of ruby red. 



Of the other molluscs a number of the bivalves are quite 

 brilliant, such as the rock boring pholads. A number of the 

 univalves or snail-like t^pes are also luminous, as are several 

 of the pteropods and heteropods. The light emitted by these 

 molluscs is mostly greenish or a vivid blue, but in some reddish. 

 The luminous molluscs live mostly in the open sea. 



A number of the jointed worms or annelids living on the 

 surface of the sea or in deep water are very brilliant, as are 

 also not a few of those that live along the shores concealed in 

 holes or under stones. Some of the latter swarm at the surface 

 at certain seasons and produce a wonderful display, a few 

 leaving trails of light behind them a foot or two in length. 



As an example, ]Mr. Agassiz wrote that a most surprising 

 phosphorescense was produced by a small annelid allied to 

 Syllis which he found in Petite Bale d'Arlet. Just after dark 

 this bay was covered for a time with hundreds of phosphores- 

 cent spots gliding slowly about, when suddenly a number of 

 these began to move actively, performing the most remarkable 

 gyrations. Soon the whole bay was traversed by brilliant 

 phosphorescent trains made up of small particles of light, 

 which remained refulgent for a while, so that the track, winding 



