The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-14
Pll0SPlI0RESCENCE.
THE LIGHT WHICH ILLUwlNEs WITH.
OUT CREATING HEAT.

There is no subject which the re
searches Of scientists have more com
Nctcly failed 10 clucidatc than that o
tho cause Of animal. mineral and vcge
table phosphorcsccncc- light which
unlike all other lights. illuminos with
ont either consuming or giving out an,
percsptible heat The ocean is the great
siorchousc Of phosphorcsccnt light. Or
rs surface myriads Of noctilucm litil,
creatures just visible to the naked eve
are often seen lighting the waves foi
miles, and presenting wonderful effect.
when the water is broken by the bow OF
a shipo the oars Of boat Persons who
have passcd through stretch of water
crowded with noctilucp say that the
light they give dims that Of the stars
and makes the sea look az though il were
a vast hcaving mass Of metal at white
heat
The intensity Of the light is explained
by the immense quantity Of the little
animals. which ore computed TO number
thirty ihousanlor so TO the cubic foot
3aihcrs in waters where they abound
have often been amazed to find on
emerging. that their bodies are rendered
luminous by tho noctilucm that cling to
them
4 kind Of sea slug that is met with in
the Mediterranean and the Pacific cmiis
light from certain spots IN the body II
IS capable Of being kept in am aquarium
and there are usually some specimens in
thc famous one at Naples. When dis
tubcd or swimming the light makes it
look like flame in the water
ryKOs0Nls
Tho most splendid Of the many lumi-
nous inhabitants ~ the sea are the pyro-
somm At night they look as though
made Of glowing white hot from diifus
ing SO strong a light that other fishes are
rendered visible when they happen 20
swim within hcsphcrc of thcirradiancc.
a distinguishing feature of The pyro-
soma !. the variety Of tinis that il gives
fouh-orangc. green. azure, blue, white.
and various shades Of dark red having
been an noticed by various Observers.
s tiny kind of shark that H. met with OF
ihe shores Of the southern states of
america is a noted light giycr Spcci.
mems captured and taken into darl
apartment present an extraordinary spec
tao, The entire surface Of the head
ani body cmits a grccnish CLEAN that is
constant. and is not, as in the case of
most of these luminous inhabitants of
the sea, increased by friction and agita
ton.
Tho smallncss Of tho Ems Of this fish
show that it is not am active swimmer.
and the assumption is that its light il
useful IN attracting its prey, on the prin
cirlc of the torches used by many say
ages in fishing Several kinds q crabs
ar, luminous. One named thcsapphirina
i- noted for thc intensely vivid character
IF the light That proceeds irom IL. So
brilliant Is 10 that 10 does not need dark
hess 10 mako its presence known. bat
corruscatos blue. purple, green. gold and
sapphire rays ia fall daylight The
presence of "a school Of mackorol is often
indicated by the phosphorcsccnt CLEAN
which these fish produce. Fishermen
often dcscry them az great distance 10y
Tiff. light. and hasten % surround them
bv their nets. lt is thought that mack
orel make secretion which gives the
light. 1913 after obey are captured glcam-
ing fluid is noticed running OF their
bodies. and sometimes covering the hands
Of The mca who toss them from the boat
TIRErLlrs.
Il has been urged that the poet was
guilty Of am oxaggcration ia describing
the Grcnies as giving sufficient light TO
Jc of any service; but The accounts OF
in South America, who tell us
hat the natives light their path while
iourneying 10y couple of these insects
lied % their feet. show that he was
speaking quite within the bounds Of pos
ibility At evening entertainments in
hat part Of the world it is customary
Far ladies TO decorate their hair and
lrcsscs with hrcnies, confined by deli
'atc siiken threads.
The natives Of Vera Cruz DO cutie g
ar-o trade in nrcAcs, which they catch
iy waving blazing coal at the end of a
tick. The insects ny toward the light,
ma are captured in nets. The iircilios
# Northern America differ from those
lust described ia the fact that they emit |
heir light in capricious flashes, instead |
IF with a steady. uniform glow This |
popularity has gained for them thcnamc |
# lightning bugs" Their light is very |
imilar TO that of our giowworm. \ /
tory is told Of some French peasants |
Who were returning home one night and |
aw a meteor fall through the say IN |
ront Of them. about half mile further /
.n they came toa glowing mass ia a /
Itch and rushed away terrified, dcclar- /
ng that q star had fallen upon the earth |
md was burning it up On investigation
WAS found that this burning star was /
.othing more uncanny than a mass Of
ro.,s' eggs that had developed phosphOr-
sccncc
Several varieties Of the vegetable king
om are luminous IN q greater or less
cgrce. one of tho fungi, which Is not
4 all uncommon on the walls of damp,
lark mines. caycrns. etc. occasionally
mits sufficient light to admit OF the
eading Of ordinary print 10y 10. The
mission Of light from the common po-
ALTO when in "a state of decomposition is
omctimcs very striking Several OF the
indian plants and grasscsarc also lumin-
lis and it is said that ia 1919 the noun
aims near Syree wercnishtly illuminated
~ their means The root stock Of
liant from the Ooraghum jungle. sup
osed to be am orchid. possesses the pc
uliar property Of becoming luminous
.hcn wctted. while. when dry, it Is
uitc mstcrlcss. The hairy rcd poppy,
ic nasturlium and the double marigold
rc also luminous to certain degree
london Standard
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