NIGHT-LIGHTS. 1 95 



which were moving filaments inside the skin, which appear 

 as if destined to protrude for the purpose of attachment. 

 Dark spots were also noticed, within which Spix supposed 

 might be either the spawn or the undigested remains of 

 prey. These little creatures soon die when taken out of the 

 sea, but while still living they seem to associate in groups 

 caused by mutual attraction, when in their individual 

 movements they come within the radius of the attracting 

 power. As they are never seen in salt-water during the day, 

 it appears probable that they may sink to the bottom and 

 rest there until night, and, like 



"The merry elves of Fairyland," 



wait to enjoy their gambols 



" By the moonbeam's sportive light ;" 



themselves supplying a fictitious resemblance, when the 

 real beams of that luminary are wanting, or mingling their 

 lesser coruscations with hers in sportive rivalry. 



The position of this sparkling atom in the scale of nature 

 is very uncertain, but the impression generally entertained 

 is that it has a considerable affinity with the Foraminifera, 

 although it has no shell. I should have rather supposed 

 that it would come nearer to the Medusce, several of which 



