NATURE'S FIREWORKS 51 



the brightest glow-worm, and on a calm summer 

 night the water, if you but dip your hand into it, 

 breaks into shining drops beneath your touch. All 

 this phosphorescence is seen to greatest advantage 

 on a dark night, when the motion of the vessel 

 sets the sea on fire around one. At such times 

 there is something wild and weird in the whole 

 scene, which at once fascinates and appals the 

 imagination ; one seems to be rocking above a 

 volcano, for the sea is intensely black, except where 

 fitful flashes or broad waves of light break from 

 the water under the motion of the vessel. The 

 sea may be black as ink, with the crests of the 

 waves breaking heavily, and surrounding one with 

 walls of fire in all directions.' 



The late P. H. Gosse, F.R.S., in his Evenings at 

 t/ie Microscope, says in his description of the jelly- 

 fish Thaumantias : ' The outline is fringed with 

 about fifty short and slender tentacles, each of 

 which springs from a fleshy bulb, in which is set 

 a speck of deep purple. These collections of 

 coloured granules, which I have already explained 

 to be rudimentary eyes, have a very charming 

 effect, and give a beautiful appearance to the 

 little creature, as if its translucent crystalline head 

 were encircled with a coronet of gems. 

 Come with me, and I will carry the glass containing 

 our little Thaumantias into the next room. You 

 need not bring the candle, or what I am going 

 to show you will be quite invisible. Take hold of 



