132 PHOSPHORESCENCE 
was not phosphorescent. All present were greatly 
surprised, and so was M. Audouin, when the 
latter, removing some earth from the flowerpot, 
soon discovered six small Scolopendra belonging 
to the species S. electrica of Linnzus. Their 
phosphoric light was indeed vivid enough. 
Going afterwards into the chicory-field, M. 
Audouin observed this phosphorescence on a 
erand scale. At first he saw only a few streaks 
of light upon the soil; but, having ordered some 
of the earth to be dug up, the spectacle that pre- 
sented itself was truly magnificent. The up- 
heaved soil appeared everywhere sprinkled with 
phosphoric radiations, and if some of it was trod- 
den upon or rubbed between the hands, streaks 
of light were produced which remained visible for 
, eight, ten, and twenty seconds. 
Many persons have witnessed the luminous 
phenomenon of S. electrica, and their observations 
coincide precisely with those just related. 
Fig. 24. 
are the only two species that are known with cer- 
tainty to be highly phosphorescent. But it is 
