Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/390

356 mention one more incident. While out in the vicinity of North Harbour (Port Jackson), on Jan. 1st, 1900, I made a few observations which I hope to be able to speak of on some future occasion; merely relating one of them at present. I was situated in a very pretty little nook of the harbour called Pirate's Cove, and, as atmospheric conditions were favourable, waited till night came on. I was well repaid, for, upon darkness setting in, I found that the whole of the water flooding the cove was filled with myriads of the Noctiluca miliaris. Here and there the wake of some fish might be traced out in silver. Then every ripple on the water was crested with light; scattered plentifully between these were little individual globes of light, and as each wavelet plashed up on the rocks or sand it would leave many Noctilucæ stranded. Wading in until the water was over my knees, my nether limbs suddenly became clothed with phosphorescence. As there was no moon, the whole contrived to form a most beautiful and fascinating display of Nature's pyrotechnics.

While on the subject of phosphorescence, I may mention that, while walking along Jarrah Beach (Botany Bay) recently at night time, my attention was attracted by the number of little "orbs of light" which were being washed in. At first I thought it was the Noctiluca, but, upon handling one, I perceived that it was hard to the touch, and therefore came to the conclusion that it was an Ostracod crustacean; nor was I mistaken, for, upon examining it when I arrived home, I found that it was a species of Cypridina. When first I handled one of these it gave out a most brilliant greenish light; in fact, so strong was it that I was enabled to tell the time by my watch, the whole of the dial-plate, including the "second" marks, being visible. Though I have kept the animal alive since in a bottle of sea-water, it has not emitted any more light.

While continuing our walk the same evening, my companion and myself came upon some fishermen who had just drawn in their net. It was loaded with fishes—principally small "Mullet" (Mugil), though there was a somewhat varied assortment of others. As usual, there were amongst them a few "Cat-fishes" (Cnidoglanis megastoma). In feeling amongst the fishes in a net one had to be very careful not to come into contact with these animals. They have a most repulsive appearance, but this is not all. Amongst the cirrus which surrounds the mouth are