CHEMISTRY OF PHOSPHORESCENCE. 425 



the spring of this year, he observed one night 

 a remarkable though not very uncommon 

 appearance of the sea. This was a large and 

 very luminous spot, which was clearly defined 

 by a sharp edge. He thus describes the ap- 

 pearance, and also the steps which he took to 

 obtain some of the water, for the purpose of 

 bringing it home to England and submitting it 

 to chemical examination : " The sea was covered 

 with so brilliant a surface of silver light that 

 we could see to read, and the shadows of the 

 ropes were strongly marked. We sailed through 

 it for about four hours ! In one place it ha<J 

 an edge, and we sailed out of it for nearly half 

 an hour, when we again entered it as abruptly, 

 and finally left it, where the edge of the illu- 

 minated part was strongly defined. The water 

 was taken up in a clean bucket, and put into 

 a carefully-cleaned bottle, about 10 north lati- 

 tude." This bottle was submitted to Dr. Fara- 

 day for analysis, the result of which is given in 

 the following note from this eminent chemist : 

 " I have examined the water, and it is peculiar 

 in some points. It contained much sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, and also a portion of solid deposit, 

 which was about one-half siilphur and the other 

 half organic matter. There has, no doubt, been 

 considerable change in the contents of the 

 water, and I cannot now recognise organic 



