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the proboscis of other shell-fish, to take in sea- 

 water into their bodies, and afterwards to throw 

 it out again. In the middle of their bodies 

 they have a small green vessel, the use of which 

 has not yet been discovered. This, when plunged 

 in spirit of wine, becomes of a purple colour ; 

 but its colour on linen will not become purple 

 in the sun like that of the murox; and, even if it 

 would, its quantity is too small to make it worth 

 preserving. 



The Phloas is remarkable for its luminous 

 quality. That this fish is luminous was noticed 

 by Pliny, who observes that it shines in the 

 mouth of the person who eats it; and if it 

 touches his hands or clothes, it makes them 

 luminous. He also says, that the light depends 

 upon its moisture. The light of this fish has 

 furnished matter for various observations and 

 experiments to M. Reaumur and the Bolognian 

 academicians, especially Beccarius, who took so 

 much pains with the phosphorical light. 



M. Reaumur observes, that, whereas other 

 fishes give light when they tend to putrescence, 

 this is more luminous in proportion to its being 

 fresh : that when they are dried, their light will 

 revive if they are moistened either with fresh or 



