Explore "Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Volume 2" by George Bennett on Textopian.
(_See_ page 35, vol. i.)
Mr. F. D. Bennett, exhibited, at a meeting of the Zoological Society, on the 25th of June, 1833, several specimens of a species of Pyrosoma, captured by him, on the 6th of September, 1832, at sea, in latitude 1° 41′ north, longitude 11° 56′ west. Between 2 and 4 A. M. the sea, having been two hours before less luminous than usual, presented one mass of bright phosphoric light, extending to a considerable distance around the vessel. The extensive field of bright luminous matter emitted so powerful a light as to illuminate the sails, and to permit a book of small print to be read with facility near the windows of the stern cabins. Above this luminous field numerous sea fowl were hovering in search of their prey. The light appeared to be entirely owing to the Pyrosomata.