THE NOCTILUCA. 



763 



Another sub-class of Rhizopods is named Polycystina, and is notable for the singular 

 structure of the shells, which are pierced in regular patterns, without orifices, and are 

 often prolonged into curious spikes and projections that give them a most wonderful 

 beauty when seen under a good microscope. They are, in general, smaller than the 

 Foraminifera, and are found in the mud of various seas, especially those of the West 

 Indian islands. The marvellous variety which is obtained by the carrying out of two 

 principles, namely, the piercing of holes and the projection of spikes, is almost incredible ; 

 and the delicate tracery of the patterns thus produced is so artistic as to have been 

 happily compared to the hollow ivory balls carved by the patient hands of Chinese 

 artists. 



i & 2. Polystomella Lessoniana. 

 7&n. Quinqueloculina nieridintdis. 



3 & 4. Bulimina elegantissima. 



8. Bulimina. pulchtlla. 

 \o. Oolina Isobelleana. 



5 & 6. Rosalind ornata. 

 9. Dentalina acuta. 



THERE is one little creature, which is supposed by many physiologists to belong to the 

 Rhizopoda, but whose position is very uncertain, and even its class not clearly ascertained. 

 This is the NOCTILUCA, a tiny being about as large as the head of a minikin pin, which 

 swarms in our seas, and is remarkable for its phosphorescent power. If a vessel be 

 filled with sea-water and be brought into a dark room, the Noctiluca fills it with little 

 sparklets of bluish light, which shine for an instant like stars in the firmament, and 

 which can be induced to give out their momentary radiance by tapping the vessel, or 

 even by a heavy footfall on the floor of the room. 



Each of these little beings is furnished with a minute tail-like appendage, by means 

 of which it is enabled to proceed through the water; and on certain favorable occasions 

 they fill the sea with their luminous hosts, and cause each wave to become a breaking 

 mass of liquid fire. A ship passing through the sea leaves a fiery wake behind her 

 keel, and when the boatmen lift their oars from the sea, they appear to drop flames 

 from the blades as they are raised, all dripping, into the air at every stroke. 



Although so small as to be microscopic in their dimensions, they are yet large enough 

 to be discerned by the unaided eye, and can therefore be isolated without difficulty 

 and placed in the field of the microscope. 



Ox the right hand of the accompanying illustration may be seen some odd-looking 

 objects, which are considered as belonging to the Rhizopods, though not possessing any 

 shell. 



