THE COASTS OF SICILY. 2\) 



they had borrowed some of the hidden fires of Strom- 

 boli. The waves as they broke along the reeky 

 shore encircled it with a glowing band of light, 

 whilst every projecting cliff was circled with a wreath 

 of fire. Our boat seemed as if it were opening for 

 itself a passage through some glowing and fused 

 liquid, whilst in its wake it left a long track of light, 

 each stroke of the oar brightening the bosom of the 

 waves with a broad silver gleam. The water that 

 was taken up in a bucket presented the appearance of 

 molten lead, as we slowly poured it back into the sea. 

 Everywhere over this brilliant surface of calm light, 

 myriads of dazzling green sparks and globes of fire 

 were flashing, quivering and dying amid the undula- 

 tions of the waves, and these sparks and globes 

 of fire were so many living beings animals belong- 

 ing to the Crustaceans, Annelids and Medusae. At 

 certain times of the year, and probably at the period 

 in which the accomplishment of the reproductive 

 functions requires a superabundant manifestation of 

 vital activity, these microscopical beings acquire the 

 property of emitting light at each muscular con- 

 traction; and hence every movement in these 

 animalcules is made apparent by a luminous flash. 



The numerous observations which I made on the 

 coasts of Brittany and Normandy, led me long ago 

 to this conclusion, which has been further confirmed 

 by new researches. Professor Ehrenberg, on the 

 other hand, is of opinion that some Annelids possess, 

 like Glow-worms *, a special organ whose function is 



* The name of Glow-worm has been given to different species, 



