Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 002.djvu/198

 wherein the luminousness of the Fish resides: For I remembered that I had more than once observed a certain glimmering and small Light to be produced in a sort of Bodies upon putting them out of their former Rest, and taking them into the Air, which sparks would vanish themselves sometimes within one minute, sometimes within a few minutes. But as these thoughts were but transient conjectures, so I shall not entertain you any longer about them, but rather contenting my self with the hint already given, take notice of what may be more certainly deduced from our Experiment, which is, That the Air may have a much greater interest in divers odd Phænomena of Nature, than we are hitherto aware of.

And for confirmation of our Experiment, I shall add, that having in another Receiver eclipsed a piece of Fish, that shone when 'twas put in more languidly than divers others that we had tried, I kept it about three days and three nights in a Receiver, which (Receiver) being somewhat like another, at first suggested to me, when I came to take it, some scruple, but afterwards, upon further examination, concluded it to be the same; wherefore I opened it in the dark, and upon letting in the Air on this Body, that shined but faintly at first, it immediately recovered its so long suppressed Light; and having included another piece that was yet more faint than this, when it was put into the Receiver, I thought fit to try at once the Experiment hitherto confirmed, and the Converse of it. And therefore having kept this piece also three days and three nights in the exhausted Glass, I let in the Air upon it, and notwithstanding the darkness of the place nothing of Life was thereupon revived. But this being little other than I expected from a Body, that shined so faintly when 'twas put into the Receiver, and had been kept there so long, I resolved to exercise my patience a while as well as my curiosity, and try, Whether the Appulse and Contact of the Air would have that operation after some time, that it had not at first; and accordingly, after having waited a while, I observed the Fish to disclose a Light, which though but dim, was manifest enough; but having considered it for some time, I had not leisure to watch, whether 'twould increase, or how long 'twould continue.

If know not, Sir, whether you are weary with reading, but I am sure I am quite tired with making sp many Experiments upon one Rh