OBSTTvVATIONS 0>» I,UMINOUS ANIMAL'S. g4^ 



were more minute than the head of the smallest pin. Upoit 

 th,e slightest touch, they broke and vafiished from the 

 sight. Having strainotl a qtvantity of the ^iiminoiis Avater, 

 a great number of these <.ran£parcflt oor|>usclcs were ob- 

 tained xipon the cloth; and the \vart«r, which had been 

 Strained, did not afterward exhibit the least light. I then 

 put some sea water, that had been rendered particularly- 

 clear by repeafced filtr^tio«s, into a large glass; and 

 having floated m it a frae cloth, on which I had. previously 

 collected a number of luminous poiiats, several of thera - ; • 



were liberated, and became distinctly vi«i'ble In thciu: na- 

 tural element, by placing the glass before a piece of dark 

 coloured paper. They were observed to have a tendency 

 to come to the surface of the water, and after the glass 

 was set by for some time, they were found congregated 

 together, and when thus collected in a body, they had 9, -i/„-;'rtiL,J 

 dus^y straw celonr, although individually they were so /'^'j ^1"^ 

 transparent, as to be perfectly invisible, except uRder par* r-.MOi 



ticular circumstances. T'hoir substance was indeed so ex- 

 tremely tender and delicate, that they did not become 

 opaq;ie in distilled vinegar or alcohol, iintii immersed in 

 these liquors for a considerable time. 



On examining these minute glofjules with the microscope, 

 I found that they were not quite perfect spheres, but had 

 an i rrcg VI 1 ar "clf press ion on one side, which was formed of 

 an opaque substance, that projected a little way inwards, 

 -producing sueh an appearance as would arise from tying - -.; i jj.7xr/Iri 

 the neck oC a round bas, and turRiiijg it into the body. -' '^'-"^ ^'"^''^ 



The motions of these creatures in the water were slow 

 <^qd- graceful, and tiot a-ccompanied by any visi'ble con- 

 traction of their bodies. After death tJiey aiwajs sabsided 

 4:0- the bottom of tlie vessel. - - -, 



•From the si>arkling light afforded 'by this S|>pcie^ f.s'haH Medusa scm- 

 <Iistinguish it by the name of medusa scintillai^i ,, - ^' ^"^' 



t, The night folIowiRg that, on which I dis covered-, jfhe |>re- Beroe fulgcits 

 r<ydiog afiima], I ca^ight the two other iumiue^: species, 

 |^n©^6f- these I shall call the beroe 'fulgervs. - - : - 



y^ilThiSrmost elegant -cjTcatu re is of a colour changing be- described, 

 ijjij^i puj^.ple,, violet, and' pale blue; the body is,truncaled 

 .fetif^xe, and, pointed behind; but the forn> is difliGult to 



