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of an increase of brilliancy prior to the coming storm ; 

 and if the sea were always phosphorescent in the 

 same degree, sailors could have no basis on which to 

 form the opinion attributed to them. Besides all this, 

 the peculiarity of the luminous phenomena must be 

 attended to ; for this character will sometimes indicate 

 the introduction of exotic novelty, and the change of 

 light may reveal it : thus the luminous phenomenon 

 of the medusce is very differently characterised from 

 that of the cancer fulgens, and that of the sappharina 

 indicator from both. The cancer fulgens, though pos- 

 sessed of an extensive geographical range, is yet a 

 stranger to our coasts, though it may be driven from 

 its bearings by agitations in the ocean, and on our 

 coasts become the forerunner of storms. It may 

 be the case with others also : any increase in or mo- 

 dification of the common phosphorescency of the sea 

 in specific latitudes may well therefore be conceived 

 to be the presage of the coming tempest. 



Thus may the instinct presentiment of beings, which 

 from their minuteness we despise, warn us of our 

 danger, and lift up, when commissioned by a bene- 

 ficent Providence, the veil of futurity from events that 

 are to come. 



" Natura nunquam major quam in minimis." 



