426 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



forms; but the presence of the animal matter, 

 the sulphur, and the sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 all agree with the idea, that the water when 

 taken up was rich in animals or animalcules." 

 Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to 

 prove the existence of luminous animals in this 

 water, it is just as probable that it contained 

 simple organic matter in the first stages of putre- 

 faction. 



Mr. Darwin states that after using his towing 

 net during one night, he allowed it to become 

 partially dry, and having occasion twelve hours 

 afterwards to employ it again, he found the 

 whole surface sparkle as brightly as when first 

 taken out of the water. It does not appear 

 probable in this case that the particles could 

 have remained so long alive. On one occasion, 

 having kept a jelly-fish of the genus Diancea 

 till it was dead, the water in which it was 

 placed became luminous. Professor Ehrenberg, 

 during a stay of five months at Tor, on the Red 

 Sea, was frequently engaged in examining the 

 sea-water, which was found to be very full of 

 small slimy particles without any determinate 

 form, often having the edges jagged, and which 

 emitted light on stirring the water in which 

 they were found. They covered the marine 

 plants, corals, &c., which consequently appeared 

 luminous ; every stroke of the oar caused them 



