53S 



O-BSF.RVATIONS ON LUMIXOUS ANIMAL?> 



The autlinr ha: 

 ■studied 



and received 

 valuable eora- 

 •Tiunications 



contain numerous memoirs upon the subject. Notwith- 

 standing the degree of regard bestowed upon the history of 



''edleof'die^ luminous animals, it is still yery imperfect j the power of 



very imperfect, producing light appears to have beeu attributed to several 

 creatures wKteh do^not possess it ; some species, wliich eiv- 

 joy it in an; einioitMit degree, have been imperfectly de- 

 scribed, cr entirely uncbseryed: the organs which afford 

 the light in certain animals have not been examined by dis- 

 section ; and lastly, the explanations that have been givcu 

 of the phenomena of animal light arc unsatisfactory, and 

 in some instances palpably crroneoas. 



As tWs subject forms an interesting part of the history 



thoTri, of organized beings, I have for some years availed myself 



of such opportunities as occurred for its investigation. 

 Having communicated the result of some of my researches 

 to the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, he imme-. 



from Sir. J. diatelv o-ffered me hii assistance with that Jibcralitv, which 

 SO eminently rtistingnishcs him as a real lover of- science* 

 I am indebted to him for an inspection of the valuable jour- 

 nal hejtept ihrring his yoyage. with Captain Cook; for pei'- 

 mission to copy the original drawings, in his possession, of 

 those luminous animals discoyered in both the voyages of 

 j«:'-;T ' Cook ; and for some notes irpon the Luminous appearance of 

 tf^'[. -the sea, that were presented to him by Captain Ilorsbuvg, 



whose accuracy of obserration is already known to this 

 learned Society, 



I7an of the j^ (jjp following paper, I shall first examine the ground* 



paper. a r- i 3 n 



.-gr":.^-i-:- on W-hich the property of show^ing light has been aseribed 

 to certain animals, that either do not possess it, or in whiph, 

 its existence is questionable. I shall next gire an account of 

 .some luminous species, of wJiich some have been iMUc-; 

 = ':--£'.■■. curatdy described, and others quite unknown. I ^h*ll en- 

 deavour to explain from my own obscryation.?, and the in. 

 farmaiien- communicated to me by others, many (>f ;ih.;e; 

 rircumstances attending the luminous appearance ofthesg^. 

 I shafl fhcn <t^scribo the organs employed for the produce, 

 tion of light in certain sfiecies; and lastly, I shall rerje^V: 

 i\\Q opinions which have been entertained respecting the 

 jiatiite and Originai of animaMight, and relate^'the cxperi- 

 Ti.'It?f*Vl have made for the purpose of elucidating tliis part 

 of tht,^ subject* 



Tho 



