322 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



"One evening, between eight and nine o'clock 

 on the river Lyne, we saw the river poachers 

 'burning the water.' The party consisted of four 

 men, one with a cruisie (cruse or cresset), a sort of 

 portable grate, made of iron hoops, with a long 

 handle, in which was some sacking saturated with 

 paraffin oil, the blaze of which might rival the 

 electric light. Another, with a three-taed leister (a 

 three-pronged fork, or trident, used for striking 

 fish), waded up stream in company with the one 

 carrying the light, while the other two, with sacks, 

 walked on each side of the river carrying the spoil. 

 Occasionally the light became stationary, as a fish 

 was seen on the spawning-bed, and in an instant 

 the victim, wriggling on the spear, was forked to 

 the nearest bank. " 



The above instances — and others might be 

 mentioned — serve to show how universally, through 

 man's agency, the lower animals are influenced and 

 attracted by a strong light ; and the question arises 

 whether there are any instances in nature of wild 

 creatures emitting a phosphorescent light, or 

 presenting a flame-coloured surface for the purpose 

 of attracting and alluring their prey. Setting aside 

 the case of the glow-worm, in which the exhibition 

 of a light serves a very different purpose — the 

 congress of the sexes — there is reason to believe 

 that the question may be answered in the 

 affirmative ; and the subject is a very interesting 

 one. But in order to confine the inquiry within 

 reasonable limits, and not to mention species which 

 are not readily observable (as, for example,. 



