400 EAMBLES OP A NATUEALIST. [Oh. XXIII. 



seen in other situations where they are unmolested, though 

 I must say that in my experience this is rare. Thus, in 

 the Indian Ocean, in lat. 12|° N. and long. 55° E. (bar. 30°, 

 therm. 82°), among other appearances I noticed now apd^ 

 then a large luminous patch, with a roundish, irregular 

 outline, pass by, emitting a pale and steady light, although 

 out of the path of the ship ; and on August 17th, being in 

 a small boat on the coast of Borneo, in a strong breeze, 

 after dark, I observed deep beneath the surface, and entirely 

 , apart from any influence of the oars, the appearance of large 

 globes of white light, shining persistently and spontaneously 

 in considerable numbers. 



Although I long and constantly watched for, the bodies 

 which produced this remarkable and frequent luminous effect, 

 I did so for a considerable time ia vain. In vain I attempted 

 to penetrate below the surface in search of any animals which 

 could possibly originate the light. Although I could dis- 

 tinctly see the bottom of the ship's rudder, 19 feet deep, I 

 could never detect a trace of any living thing within that 

 depth by day ; but no sooner did darkness supervene than 

 they were often in the greatest abundance. It was on Jime 

 2nd, in lat. 28J° S., and long. 9° E., that I was at length 

 witness of a circumstance which seemed to elucidate the 

 question. Looking as usual over the stern, there were 

 plenty of moon-shaped patches, accompanied by sparks un- 

 usually large and bright. The patches were remarkably 

 persistent, and could be traced for nearly half a minute after 

 the ship had passed. They were evidently at a considerable 

 but varying distance below the surface of the water. When 

 far down they appeared large and faint, and ill defined ; 

 but when nearer the surface they were smaller, brighter, and 

 better defined. As I watched, one of the bright bodies 



