T2 
PHOSPHORESCENCE OF THE SEA. 
attracted our attention. The luminosity was so great, 
that by its reflection, alternate light and shade were 
strongly marked on the lower studding-sail, as it flapped 
backwards and forwards in the light flaws of wind ; and 
some of the water having been carefully examined under a 
powerful compound microscope, two very minute species 
of gelatinous animalculae were discovered, one of these 
was a microscopically small Medusidce, of which some 
were in clusters, others single, and yet when magnified 
four hundred times, did not look larger than a grain of 
sand, yet each produced a scintillation of light. The 
other more scarce species was an elongated Polypus, 
resembling a series of small tubes placed in, and graduated 
one above the other, and somewhat convoluted. In this 
experiment, as in all others, it was necessary to agitate the 
water to elicit the phosphorescence. 
21s#. — During the last two days, we have passed a 
great number of Campanulate Acalephce of almost 
every colour; but the most prevalent had a disc of 
reddish-brown or yellow, in diameter from one-fourth of 
an inch to two inches and a half. In one which we 
examined, the colour seemed to depend on the contents 
of the stomach which was a yellowish fluid. Some others, 
at night only emitted a phosphorescent light on being 
moved about in the water ; and many were observed 
near the ship, the size of the luminous portion appearing 
to increase or diminish with the contractions or dila- 
tations of the gelatinous mass. 
The N.E. trade-wind lasted only a few days after 
