146 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
armata , is responsible for producing very 
beautiful effects amidst the Arctic snow where 
it dwells. 
Nordenskiold writes in reference to this 
creature : “If during winter one walks along 
the beach on the snow, which at ebb is dry, 
but at flood is more or less drenched through 
with sea water, there rises at every step an 
exceedingly intense, beautiful bluish-white 
flash of light. . . . 
“The flash lasts only a few moments, but is 
so intense that it appears as if a sea of fire 
would open at every step a man takes. 
“It produces indeed a peculiar impression 
on dark and stormy winter days to walk along 
this mixture of snow and flame, which at 
every step one takes splashes about in all 
directions, shining with a light so intense 
that one is ready to fear that his shoes or 
clothes will take fire.” 
Phosphorescence is also emitted by the 
Tunnicates, the phenomenon being especially 
marked in the genus Pyrosoma , small creatures 
which congregate together in large numbers 
and form bunches. The colonies sometimes 
attain to large dimensions, Moseley, during 
the famous voyage of the Challenger , recording 
one that measured four feet in length and 
ten inches in diameter. Describing this 
