ZOOPHYTES. 255 



zoophytes. Dr. Johnston, as well as other writers, 

 quotes Mr. Hassall's interesting remarks on this 

 subject. Speaking of the phosphoric light emitted 

 by corallines, Mr. Hassall remarks, " This fact I 

 first discovered in a specimen of Laomedea gela- 

 tinosa, and subsequently in a great variety of 

 other species. If a portion of it, adhering to the 

 sea-weed to which it is attached, be taken from 

 the water, and agitated, a great number of bright 

 phosphorescent sparks will be emitted; these 

 sparks proceed from each of the denticles of the 

 coralline containing polype, and the phenomenon 

 is equally apparent, whether the specimen be in 

 or out of the water." In another work this writer 

 adds, " I lately had an opportunity of beholding 

 this novel and interesting sight of the phos- 

 phorescence of zoophytes, to great advantage, when 

 on board one of the Devonshire trawling-boats 

 which frequent this coast. The trawl was raised 

 at midnight, and great quantities of corallines were 

 entangled in the meshes of the network, all shin- 

 ing like myriads of the brightest diamonds." Mr. 

 Hassall also states, that once each week he re- 

 ceived from the master of a trawling vessel on the 

 Dublin coast, a large hamper of zoophytes in the 

 fresh state. In the evening these were taken 

 into a darkened room, in which several persons 

 were assembled to witness this beautiful exhibition. 

 "I then," says this writer, "used to gather up 

 with my hands as much of the contents of the 

 hamper as 1 could manage, and tossing them about 

 in all directions, thousands of little stars shone 

 out brightly from the obscurity, exhibiting a spec- 

 tacle, the beauty of which, to be appreciated, must 

 be seen, and one which it has been the lot of but 



