56 THE PYROSOMA. 



distance ; and the whole of the ocean then became hidden 

 in the darkness as before." Other instances are also 

 detailed of a similar nature ; and Mr. G. Bennett ob- 

 serves, that after removal from the water the light of 

 the pyrosoma soon subsides, but may be renewed by 

 moving the animal about, for some time longer. 



The pyrosoma is a molluscous animal, and consists 

 of a simple semi-transparent gelatinous tube, rather 

 larger at one end than at the other. In size and 

 length this tube varies in different species. The tube 

 itself is hollow, wuth a distinct aperture at the larger 

 end, and also at the opposite end ; but that of the latter 

 is smaller and contracted. The substance of the tube 

 is not homogeneous, but is dotted all over with granu- 

 lations, or small buds, closely set together in the sub- 

 stance of the gelatine : these examined minutely will be 

 found to have open mouths : they are, in fact, each dis- 

 tinct animals, so that a single tube is made up of an 

 aggregate of beings cemented as it were together ; a 

 condition of organic life occurring in the zoophytes. 

 According to the observations of MM. Audouin and 

 Milne Edwards, these beings are at first free, and live 

 and swim independently of each other ; they are conglo- 

 merated into a mass only at a certain period of their 

 existence. In this condition, the pyrosoma swums on the 



