The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-14
OCEAN PHosPHOREsCENCE.
A Familiar But Unexplained Phe-
nOmenOn.
From the London Globe.

From the London Globe.
From the poop of a sailing vessel-if
such thing can be found in these days
of steam and high pressure-the best OPP
portunities occur for witnessing the I'M
explained phenomena connected with phos-
phorescence at sea. The hustle and con-
fusion of a mailboat is absent amid the
quiet routine ON board well-found clip
per, where there is ample time for the OBJ
servation of the world around. We are
better able to appreciate the ever-varying
phases of the sea as we glide imperceptibly
from the temperate zone to the equator,
and across the tropic Of Capricon to the
boundless southern ocean beyond. The
brilliant nights are the real glory of the
tropics; and as the ship, at times, ploW5
her way through the undulating waves OF
liquid flame, we gaze spellbound at ma
ture's display, and in vain seek to probe
the mystery of its phosphorescent being.
Everybody knows that certain microscopic
infusoria-termed Noctilucae-render the
sea luminous by their scintillations of
light, but the cause of the emanatlons
is practically unknown. 1t may be the
product of some nervous irritation, or the
throbs given in response to the magnetic
pulsations of the universe. If the cause,
least study the effect, and follow the diff
ferent transitions of light from sea to
sea, examine the different animals which
yield the luminous display, and the varia-
lions of the emitted rays; for hundreds of
marine organisms glow and sparkle in the
darkness of night
After the boisterous region of the Bay
of Biscay has been passed the course,
maybe lies in the direction of the Azores,
or Western Isles; we find ourselves in
warmer latitudes, and the waters TEEN
with life Flashes of light illumine the
waters directly night sets in, and natures
alchemy is at work. There is globe of
blush light floating rapidly by, buoyant
on the waves; suddenly it explodes with
bright flash, and the Will o. the Wisp Is
gone, Scores of these incandescent lamps
pass by and very soon specimen is
shooting backward and forward in
bucket of sea water within darkened
cabin An investigation shows that the
creature is a Pyrosoma, a compound or
gansm belonging to the Tunicate family
of inverte brate animals, somewhat near
ly allied to the mollusca. A group of in
dividuals cluster within the common gela-
tinous tunic; each is independent of the
other, except for The fact that a general
orifice serves both for the purposes of
water circulation, breathing and food
supply The microscope reveals every de-
tail of living structure in transparent out
line. although the rosy-tinted jelly mass
is quite visible to the naked eye with the
intestinal nucleus of deep red. In the
same locality the ribbon-like medusod an
imal occurs in profusion-known as We
nus Girdle; a creature which, when 1t
expands and contracts, flashes forth long
rays of white light.
The masses of gulf weed floating In the
Sargasso sea are sometimes strangely lu-
minous at night, cleaning with steady,
concentrated brightness which is sustain
ed for many minutes at a time. In this
instance it is not the vegetable substance
which CLOVIS but simply the infusorial
Noctilucae clinging to the fronds in count
less thousands in the same way that her.
ring shoals are caused to shine off the
Cornish coast with extraordinary brill
lance and the curl of a wave breaks on
a sandy shore sheet of fire. Sparks cling
like glittering Jewels to the meshes of a
net or to the PROV Of a ship that plunges
through the molten sea. Some of the
larger jellyfish, again, swim in the trans
lucent waters of the warmer seas, with
the central part of the organism showing
a light of considerable size-for all the
world like the electric spark contained in
q Swan Edison globe. You may follow its
track many feet below the surface, the
radiance having blush tinge. Phospho-
rescence indeed, Is not merely a thing
Of the ocean surface; for as surmised by
the late Prof Moseley in the Challenger
| Notes." it is highly probable that the deep
zones of life are entirely lit by the animal
radiation; hence one of the chief uses OF
the luminous properties.
school of porposes not infrequently
| create a phosphorescent turmoil as they
| rush through the water-that is, they agi-
tate the sea Is all directions, causing the
really luminous creatures to glitter. In
| like manner an octopus or sepia shines oc-
casionally in water If placed in a dark
| room. II possesses no special light-yield-
| ing properties of its own, the subdued
emanation being due to the food contained
| in the stomach, and partially visible
| through the enveloping body-sac. The IN
| dian ocean swarms with small crustacea
| ~ every imaginable color; some are bright
scarlet. Others azure blue, rich shades Of
violet or invisibly white. Associated with
| these are the surface swimming larval
forms of many crabs and Holsters. Every
| one OF these marine animals has a
| frontal plate of flashing light Of such in