421 



LUMINOSITY OF THE OCEAN. 



Mb. F. D. Bexxett, exhibited, at a meeting 

 of the Zoological Society, on the 25th af 

 June, 1883, several specimens of a species of 

 Pyrosom* eapfcitred 1^ Mite> m the 6th of Sep- 

 teiisberj 18S2j at sea, in latitude 1* 41' noftl, 

 longitude IP 50' west. Botweoii 2 and 4 a. m. 

 the sea, liaving been two hours beibi-e less hiini- 

 nons than usual, presented one mass of bright 

 phosphoric light, extending to a considerable dis- 

 tafloe atdttnd the v^md* The exteiasiire fidd of 

 bi%ht Ittminous tmiMt einitted m powea^l a 

 light as to illuminate the sails, and to peWs^ % 

 book of small print to be read with facility near 

 the windows of the stern cabins. Above this 

 luminous field numerous sea fowl were hovering 

 m seansh <sf iLkw prey. Tlie light appeared to 

 be entirely owing i& the Pyrosomafca- 



Sj^eeimens taken from the sea and placed in a 



