1847.] JYotes on JYatiiral History. 247 



emit a phosphorescent light during the hours of darkness, when 

 the ocean is briskly agitated into waves. Of this however, we 

 had no direct opportunity of determining. 



As the day drew to a close, a thin greyish mist was observed, 

 gradually disseminating itself throughout the western horizon, ancl 

 before an hour had elapsed, a dense mass of confluent clouds had 

 obscured the entire heavens, and enveloped the whole scene in 

 a A'eil of almost impenetrable darkness. But it came not alone, 

 tor one of those terriffic Pamparo's so much dreaded by mariners 

 when on this coast, had set in, and continued with slight inter- 

 mission, for the space of nearly three days, accompanied by some 

 of the most intense displays of lightning and thunder, that I think 

 1 ever beheld or heard. It was truly an exciting moment; and 

 while leaning over the vessel's side we were irresistibly led to 

 the contemplation of the awfully grand and sublime spectacle 

 by which we were surrounded. On every side the vast and 

 widely extended body of water was seen, rolling with a mighty 

 swell, and tumbling wave over wave, in sheets of liquid flame, 

 occasioned by the extraordinary luminosity of the sea. On cast- 

 ing the eye aloft, all was as black as the very depths of darkness, 

 whilst now and then a terriffic gleam of light tore through the 

 murky mass, and shot in wild and jagged streaks across the scene, 

 as if the presiding spirit of the storm had arisen in its wrath, and 

 was lashing the ocean with an ungovernable fury down to its 

 very foundations. 



This extraordinary brilliancy of the sea, was unquestionably in 

 a great measure produced by the myriad of animal forms that in- 

 habit its waters. In many instances they were observed to attain 

 a size sufficiently large as to render them distinctly visible to the 

 naked eye, while at others they were diminished to such a degree 

 as only to become sensible through that avenue to unseen glories, 

 the microscope. They likewise varied as greatly in their struc- 

 tural forms as the species were everywhere numerous. 



That the ocean teems with animal life, we have in abundance 

 the united testimony of many intelligent travellers and naturalists, 

 whose qualifications for observation and forming correct conclu- 

 sions, are altogether indisputable; and often have I when leaning 

 over the vessel's side, during the most perfect calms, discovered 

 the sun's rays to be intercepted by numerous minute points, in 

 such a manner as to cast their mingling shadows far below. 

 When the waters of the sea are violently agitated during a storm, 

 the constant friction of their bodies with the waves, cause these 

 animals readily to emit those magnificent corruscations, which 

 have so often tieen the theme of admiration, and also given origin 

 to so much wonder and varied speculation in the developement of 

 a cause. Fishes are not unfrequently seen, during the night, to 



