THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OP THE SEA. 
277 
presented a dead white tint, which might have been mistaken 
for foam iUnminated by moonlight ; but on a nearer approach 
their appearance changed, and they seemed to be crowned with 
a faint bluish flame, comparable to that proceeding from a 
lighted bowl of punch. When they burst, the illumination, even 
as it appeared to a person standing at the water’s edge, became 
whiter and more vivid, and the undulations often resembled 
waves of molten lead or iron, bespangled all over with innumer- 
able sparks of a brilliant white, or whitish-green hue. A similar 
appearance was presented on the sand after the wavelets had 
burst ; for they imparted to it a uniformly white and luminous 
tint, from which there appeared to spring myriads of scintilla- 
tions more vivid and intense than the luminous ground. As the 
water became absorbed by the sand, its limi ts were clearly defined 
by a bright luminous cordon or band, which indicated the 
extent to which it had spread upon the shore. 
When the hand was plunged into these fiery waves, and then 
withdrawn, it was at first completely luminous ; but after a few 
seconds there only remained a number of glistening specks, 
which were, however, tolerably persistent. Water drawn from 
the beach, and poured from a certain height, exactly resembled 
molten lead, and the splashing drops presented precisely the 
same appearance. This luminous display was of considerable 
duration, and it was sufficiently brilliant to deceive the instinct 
of animals. During one of these nocturnal rambles, in which I 
was accompanied by a friend* who was aiding me in my experi- 
ments, the watch- dog belonging to the oyster-bed came bound- 
ing towards us, and barked loudly, thinking, no doubt, that he 
had to deal with robbers. We repulsed him with the contents 
of our brine-can, and in order to escape from this water, which 
he mistook for fire, he at once fled, and contented himself with 
threatening us at a respectful distance. 
Another circumstance whereby we may recognize that move- 
ment is necessary for the manifestation of these luminous phe- 
nomena, is the following : That portion of the beach from which 
the tide has just receded appears, as one approaches it, to be quite 
free from phosphorescence; but when trodden upon, this is found 
not to be the case, for the concussion caused by the foot in 
walking, produces exactly the same effect as the stone which is 
flung into the tranquil water. r The very ground appears to 
kindle under the steps of the pedestrian, and the fine gravel 
* M. Bouchard-Chantereaux, one of those rare examples of the class 
of men who, in the isolation of the provinces, are still capable of fostering 
an ardent love for science, and to whom justice is seldom rendered by the 
learned community ; for, satisfied with the acquisition of knowledge, they 
publish but few, if any, of the results of their arduous labours and 
investigations. 
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