Observations upon Luminous Animals. St 
tended illumination of the sea, produced by the above ani- 
mals. The first night I saw this singular phenomenon 
was extremely dark; many of the medusa scintillans and 
medusa hemispherica had been observed at low water, but 
on the return of the tide they had suddenly disappeared. 
On looking towards the’ sea, 1 was astonished to-perceive a 
flash of light of about six yards broad, extend from the 
shore, for apparently the distance of a mile and a half, along 
the surface of the water. The second time that I saw this 
sort of light proceed from tbe.sea, 11 did not take the same 
form, but was diffused over the surface of the waves next 
ihe shore, and was so strong, that I could for the moment 
distinctly see my servant, who stood at a little distance 
from me; he also perceived it, and called out to me at the 
same instant. On both these occasions the flash was visi- 
ble for about four or five seconds ; and although [ waiched 
for it a considerable time, I did not see it repeated. ~ 
A difused Juminous appearance of the sea, in some re- 
spects different from what I have seen, has been described 
by several navigators. 
Godehen de Riville saw the sea assume the appearance of 
a plain of snow on the coast of Malabar*. 
Captain Horsburg, in the notes he gave to Sir Joseph 
Banks, says, there is a peculiar phenomenon sometimes seen 
within a few degrees distance of the coast of Malabar, du- 
ring the rainy monsoon, which he had an opportunity of 
observing.” At midnight the weather was cloudy, and the 
sea was particularly dark, when suddenly it changed to a 
white flaming colour all around... This bore no resemblance 
to the sparkling or glowing appearance he bad observed on 
other occasions»in seas near the equator, but was a regular 
white colour, Jike milk, and did not continue more than 
len minutes, A similar phenomenon, he says, is frequently 
seen in the Banda sea, and is very alarming to. those who 
have never perceived or heard of such an appearance before. 
This singular phenomenon appears to be explained by 
some observations communicated to me by Mr. Langstaf, 
a surgeon in the City, who formerly made ceveral voyages. 
dn going from New Holland to China, about half an hour 
after sunset, every person-on beard was astonished -by a 
milky appearance of the sea: the ship seemed to be sur- 
rounded by ice covered with snow. Some of the company 
supposed they were in soundings,and that the coral bottom 
#ave this curious reflection; but on sounding with 70 fae 
* Mem, Etrang, del’ 4rad..des Sc, tome iii. 
thoms 
