62 



was found to consist of three distinct animalculae, each 

 of which was beautifully luminous, and altogether re- 

 sembled a bluish star. We have repeatedly found 

 luminous marine insects entangled among the minute 

 algcB and fusci which invested the shell of the rock 

 oyster ; and in the case cited, they might have been 

 introduced in the act of separating the shells. The 

 luminous spark in the oyster, like the enchanted lamp 

 of Armida, though caused by an intruder, is an ignis 

 fatuus, that may thus allure to destruction. 



In the Transactions of the Wernerian Society *, 

 Capt. Wauchope, R. N., has introduced some remarks 

 on the phosphorescence of the sea, which go to prove it 

 to be connected with luminous animals : "In Septem- 

 ber, 1816," says he, in lat, 4 5 C 2' S., long, 9 19' E., 

 I observed this shining appearance very strongly, which 

 induced me to draw a bucket of water for the purpose 

 of examining it. I had it suspended, so as to have as 

 little motion as possible ; when this was the case, it 

 shone very little ; but the moment it was disturbed it 

 shone with great beauty. I next got a little lime-juice, 

 and put a wine-glassful of this acid into the bucket, 

 when the shining particles began to- move about in all 

 directions ; sometimes going only as far as the middle 

 of the bucket, then turning and taking a zig-zag direc- 

 tion. These motions certainly had every appear- 

 ance of depending upon the will of an animal : they 

 shone with much splendour, and some appeared as 

 large as the tip of one's ringer. Another glass of lime- 

 juice instantly destroyed them ; for, at the instant the 

 second quantity was poured in, the water appeared to 

 be one blaze of fire, and no motion or disturbance could 

 make it shine after this. 



* Vol. iv. p. 171, &c. 



