208 Miscellanies. 



owing to a more advanced growth,) which are inclosed in, or which 

 surround, the translucid and colorless structure of different kinds of ag- 

 ates, were found to be owing to the presence either of red globules uni- 

 formly mixed, as in the carnelian agate ; or agglomerated into small 

 irregular clots, and distributed into circular waves, according to cer- 

 tain forms or conditions which existed at the time of the siliceous 

 conglomeration ; or finally, though more rarely, to these small red 

 vegetables themselves, quite entire, and with perfect distinctness visible 

 with the microscope. It is impossible to tind a resemblance in color 

 and polish more striking than that which is seen in a white glass phial 

 filled with Protococcus kermesinus, when compared with a carnelian, 

 as may be fully established by the trial. — [M. Turpin.) — lb. 



37. Phosphorescence of the Ocean. — The naturalists of La Bonite 

 in her late voyage round the globe, have made many observations re- 

 specting marine phosphorescence, which are thus reported to the 

 French Academy of Sciences. — Many observations made upon phos- 

 phorescent water, by means of reagents, of filtration, boiling, simple 

 examination, and with the help of the microscope, have led us to the 

 following conclusions. The phosphorescent property of sea-water is 

 not inherent in the nature of this liquid, but is essentially owing to 

 the presence of organized beings. The animals which produce the 

 phosphorescence belong to different classes. In the first rank, we 

 find the minute species of Crustacea which swarm in the sea, but es- 

 pecially a very small species having two valves, which possess this 

 remarkable property in the highest degree. All these species have 

 been collected, and carefully preserved in alcohol. Many mollusca, 

 principally small Cephalopodes pelagiens, Biphores (Salpae,) &-c,, 

 and also many zoophytes, among which we remark Diphyes, Medusae, 

 &c., also possess the phosphorescent property. Finally, in certain lo- 

 calities, we also find on the surface of the ocean, very small yellowish 

 bodies which are nevertheless extremely phosphorescent. We have 

 encountered these small bodies in immense abundance when landing 

 at the Sandwich Isles, and in crossing from this archipelago to the 

 Marianne Islands. We encountered them in such vast quantities at 

 the Straits of Malacca, and upon the coast of Pulo-Penang, that the 

 whole surface for a great extent appeared covered by a thick yellow- 

 ish dust. These small bodies have been examined with the micro- 

 scope ; but although they have been for a long time submitted to our 

 notice, we have never been able to detect the slightest movement con- 

 nected with them. At the same time, the experiments we have made 

 on them through the means of various reagents, lead us to the conclu- 

 sion, that they are organized and living bodies. They appeared 



