68 A SINGULAR SIGHT. 



vations, which he constantly repeated every six 

 hours, and which were never interrupted during 

 the whole course of the voyage. Shortly after 

 sailing, he made some important experiments re- 

 garding the temperature of the water of the ocean, 

 which demonstrated it was colder in proportion as 

 the depth increased. On reaching the equator, 

 the whole crew were greatly astonished by an 

 appearance which presented itself. One night, 

 when the heavens were very dark and cloudy, a 

 bright band, as of phosphorus, covered the water 

 at the horizon ; presently the ocean seemed in a 

 flame, and sparks of fire appeared to rise from the 

 surface." 



At first the voyagers supposed this to be the 

 aurora borealis, which they had not seen ; but, on 

 advancing, they discovered the luminosity was 

 produced by a countless multitude of small ani- 

 mals, which appeared like sparks of fire. " The 

 whole surface of the ocean," says Peron, describing 

 this phenomenon, " sparkles and shines everywhere 

 like a silver stuff, electrified in the dark. Here 

 the waves roll out in immense sheets of sulphur 

 and bitumen in flames; there, again, the sea re- 

 sembles a vast ocean of milk, the limits of which 

 are lost in the horizon. Brilliant stars by myriads 

 spring from the depths, of which our fireworks arc 

 but a feeble imitation. Masses of fire roll over the 



