The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
LIGHT-BE4RING WORMS.
Exhibitions Given by Tiny Creatures of the
Sea OF Southern California.

AVALON. Cal. April 16.-The principal cause
OF phosphorescence in the ocean is the presence
OF myriads OF infusorians. such as noctilucP.
minute crustaceans. Jelly fish and worms.
Nearly all these animals have the Eighteenth
ting power more or less under control. This
has been noticed particularly in the marine
worms. one Of which. about one-fourth Of an
inch in length. is among the most remarkable
OF all the phosphorescent animals.
Drifting about in a bay Of one OF the islands
of the coast Of Southern California the OBJ
server may see on the bottom. here and there.
round luminous objects as large as a baseball.
Rapidly they increase in size until they attain
the diameter OF a saucer. then either disap-
pear suddenly or rapidly diminish in size. In
Watching one OF these lights it may be seen
reduced until hardly an inch in ameter
Presently this begins to rise to the surface
with n ziRzag motion. leaving a train Of light
that holds its position and brilliancy for more
than a minute. preserving its shape and show
ing that 1t is a luminous secretion thrown of
by the animal.
When the cause OF the brilliant phenomenon
reaches the surface it remains stationary.
forming a luminous spot that is visible 200
feet away. Numbers OF these fire bodies may
be seen floating OH the surface. SO many. in
fact. that from the boat the bay in the imme-
date vicinity appears to be dotted with fairy
lamps. II an attempt is made to catch them IN
a glass they become alarmed and wriggle away
surrounded by light and throwing Off a mar
vellous cloud of luminosity. The causes OF
these wonderful lights are small but exceed
ingly active worms. with numerous hairlike
swimming organs upon their sides. Small as
are these worms they produce a light having
the diameter of a saucer and in some instances
even larger.
That the light is a luminous secretion held
and controlled by the worm. there is litt edonbt,
as it is thrown out in greatest quantities dur
ing the violent wriggling of the worm. leavin-
a brilliant train. As night comes on, these
worms. which live hnbitually at the bottom.
rise to the surface. The color OF the light is a
clear silvery CLEAN. ,
The most brilliant display ever observed
in a small animal came from two very small
grove in California one rainy night he struck
n clod Of earth. scattering it on all sides;
with it came a blaze of light from what
a mass of Goals. The cause was
small %earthworms whose highly luminous Sc
erection had permeated the soil about them, A
Southern California. is a Scoiopendrd, about
one-third Of an inch in length and very slender
and delicate. This insect has two well-deiined
greenish lights. one on the head and one on
Many of the worms are luminous and amo0g
especially- true Of the families 50tyno'dr.
.Splidp. Polucirrus and MPtopteridI. In the
first mentioned q greenish light is noticeable
at the attachment OF each scale; IN the second
the luminosity seems most intense on the feet
in the fourth the dorsum Of the tenth segment
the entire animal appears TO- blaze with a viyid
blue light, tho possession OF VIII en- places TINS
simple creature among the wonder workers oil
the animal Kingdom.