BRITISH SPECIES OF BEHOE. 



405 



" When the Beroe fulgens swam gently near the 

 surface of the water, its whole body became occa- 

 sionally illuminated in a slight degree ; during its 

 contraction, a stronger light issued from the ribs ; 

 and when a sudden shock was communicated to the 

 water, in which several of these animals were placed, 

 a vivid flash was thrown out. If the body were 

 broken, the fragments continued luminous for some 

 seconds; and, being rubbed on the hand, left a 

 light like that of phosphorus. This, however, as 

 well as every other mode of emitting light, ceased 

 after the death of the animal." 



Mr Macartney observed this species in Hearne 

 Bay, on the northern coast of Kent, in October 

 1804. None were to be found in the same place in 

 the month of September, in the following year, al- 

 though some medusas occurred which had been the 

 companions of the beroe in the preceding season. 



There is a third animal, nearly related to the ge- 

 nus beroe, which is figured by the late Reverend 

 Charles Cordiner of Banff, in his " Remarkable 

 Iluins," No. xi. Patella, fig. g G. The magnified 

 representation which he has given, appears to inti- 

 mate a subcylindrical animal, open at both ends, 

 with a raised disk near one end, surrounded with 

 diverging spines, and exhibiting two spots, whence 

 probably issue tentacula. The author has failed in 

 this, as in many other instances, to give descrip- 

 tions, in illustration of the designs of his pencil. 



