396 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



no effect on the luminosity. Strong mineral 

 acids increased for a moment, but speedily 

 afterwards destroyed the light; ether instantly 

 destroyed the life of the animal; chloroform 

 increased the light, and then destroyed the 

 animal." 



The light with which these creatures are 

 endowed, has been considered to be in many 

 instances the guide of the inhabitant of the 

 deep to his prey. It is a remarkable fact also, 

 and is directly connected with the chemistry of 

 the sea, that when the dead body of a fish is 

 still comparatively fresh, and before it becomes 

 putrid, it often possesses this luminosity, but 

 not after putrefaction commences. There is no 

 doubt this is a chemical phenomenon. Soon 

 after death, probably the first process of de- 

 composition is the disengagement of phosphorus 

 in the form of some luminous compound : as 

 the process advances, this becomes decomposed, 

 and putrefaction soon goes so far as to render 

 the body unfit for food. Then the luminosity 

 ceases. While the food is in a fit state for 

 consumption, the beacon exists which directs 

 the consumer to his prey ; but as soon as, from 

 natural changes, it becomes unfit for that pur- 

 pose, the light is extinguished. Here surely is 

 something more than a mere law of inanimate 

 matter. He who said, " Gather up the frag- 



