IMIOSPIIOIIJC ."^JATTKU, 



tllth(mgh ill Iiig-li latitudes it is occasionally 

 visT]>le, iiinn: i'S])fTially {liiri!i*i' tlic wanii months 

 of the year. Tlif causu of it lias excited much spe- 

 etitetif^ ktiAxmg naturalists ; and although many 

 of th& tiioUu«coii$ and mt^eeaus ani- 



mals, siicli as salpa, jiijrosoma, cancer, several 

 7ue(hfm' ha\'p heeii f(>iiii<l to occasion it, yet uo 

 doubt dchrtSi from dead animal matter, with 

 wMicI) Si^^K^t is umtaPy loaded, k alsa oft^n 

 one of tb«i ej^^itiiig t:^£t$e9' 



As the sHp^salb ^ith a strong breeze through 

 a liiiiiinous sea on a dark niglit, tlie effect pro- 

 duced is then seen to the greatest advantage. 

 The wake of the vessel is one broad sheet of 

 |li^|»kq^G matter^ «<i 1>i^tls^ as^te^ cast a didl, 

 pale liglil ^rmt ikiSr afi^^^part o t' < 1 1 ( - - 1 1 i i > ; 

 foaming surges, as they gracefully curl ou each 

 side of tlic ves'^elV iuow, are simihir to rulliiifr 

 masses of liquid pliosphorus ; whilst in the dis- 

 taaee, ftvM to tiie lioi^ott, it seem& ah <>c6an of 

 lire, and the distant waves breaking, give out a 

 light of an incoiiccivalde Iieanty and bnlh'ancy ; 

 in the t'oinlunation, tlu" eileci produce- sensa- 

 tions of wontler and awe, and causes a reliection 



1^ atlse on the tmm jts^ai^mt^e^ a$to^^|iich 

 aft ;^«t IIO jndgnieilt has been ^ism^y the 



whole being overwhehned with mere hypothesis. 

 Souietiiues the luminosity is very visible witli- 



