170 



a large muscle frequently caught by the Aigeriue 

 fishermen.* 



Many sea-fish indeed have a viscous matter about 

 their gills, especially when they have been some time 

 dead. These, when kept in sea-water, shine as bright 

 as a flaming coal. A stick rubbed on their gills becomes 

 luminous wherever it has touched them, and continues 

 so while it continues moist ; but as it dries the light 

 fades. 



There is a small shell-fish called a dacfylus, which is 

 luminous all over. When it is taken out of the shell, 

 in the dark, every part of its surface shines with a bright 

 light. Nor is it the surface only, but the whole body ; 

 for if it be wounded either lengthways or across, the out- 

 parts are as luminous as the surface. It is therefore a 

 true, natural phosphorous, and makes every thiijg lumi- 

 nous that touches it, which remains so as long as it is 

 wet. When it is fresh caught it abounds with water, 

 and the very drops which fall from it are luminous. 



Some boiled nsackrel having been left in the water for 

 pickle, the cook, a day or two after, stirring the water, 

 found it very luminous. Wherever the drops of it fell 

 on the ground they shined. The next day \ve repeated 

 the trial. The water, till stirred, gave no light; but 

 when gently stirred by the hand it shone bright ; and by 

 a brisker motion it seemed to flame. The fish shone 

 as well from the inside as the out : yet they were not 

 either fetid or insipid. When fetid they did not shine 

 at all. 



The chief circumstances which Mr. B. noted con- 

 cerning luminous Jiesh were, 1. It was a neck of veal, 

 bought some days before : 2. In this about twenty 

 places shone, though not alike : 3. Most of these were 

 as big as the nail of a man's finger, and irregularly 

 shaped : 4. The parts which shone most were the grisly, 



* See a farther account of this phseaomenon, p, 172. 



