132 PHOSPHORESCENCE 



was not phosphorescent. All present were greatly 

 surprised, and so was M. Audouin, when the 

 latter, removing some earth from the flowerpot, 

 soon discovered six small Scolopendra belonging 

 to the species 8. electrica of Linnseus. Their 

 phosphoric light was indeed vivid enough. 



Going afterwards into the chicory-field, M. 

 Audouin observed this phosphorescence on a 

 grand scale. At first he saw only a few streaks 

 of light upon the soil ; but, having ordered some 

 of the earth to be dug up, the spectacle that pre- 

 sented itself was truly magnificent. The up- 

 heaved soil appeared everywhere sprinkled with 

 phosphoric radiations, and if some of it was trod- 

 den upon or rubbed between the hands, streaks 

 of light were produced which remained visible for 

 eight, ten, and twenty seconds. 



Many persons have witnessed the luminous 

 phenomenon of 8. electrica, and their observations 

 coincide precisely with those just related. 



Scolopendra eledrica (fig. 24) and 8. phospJwrea 



Fig. 24. 



are the only two species that are known with cer- 

 tainty to be highly phosphorescent. But it is 



