FORAMINIFERA. -13 



splendour. As the morning dawns the fairy vision vanishes, nor 

 can the keenest eye perceive in the translucent element the tiny 

 lamps that caused the grand illumination. 



Night comes again, again the sea, lit up, repeats the glorious 

 lesson. Not a breeze sweeps over its tranquil surface but evokes 

 a flash of splendour that extends for miles, and emulates the 

 lightnings of the skies ; and so from day to day the gallant ship 

 sails on ; from week to week, from month to month, the mighty 

 ocean, through its wide extent, renews each night the impressive 

 spectacle. 



FlG. 6. NOCTILUCA MILIARIS. 



If we inquire into the cause of a phenomenon thus widely ex- 

 tended, it will be found in every part of the world to depend upon 

 the presence of infinite myriads of living atoms resembling those 

 we are discussing. On taking a glass of the sea-water thus made 

 luminous, it will be found that every sparkle is an animal (Nocti- 

 luca miKaris) composed of living substance such as forms the 

 Rhizopods described above (Fig. 6). 



We have as yet spoken only of the simplest of these animals, 

 but by far the greater portion of the Foraminifera are composite 

 fabrics. The Rotalia* (Fig. 5, c), for example, might almost be 

 taken for the shell of a microscopic nautilus, nay, has been so 

 mistaken even by the most eminent zoologists. These exquisite 



* Rota, a ic/itst. 



