ceived to accompany the exhibition of the light. The application of electricity in this instance seems to have acted merely as a strong mechanic shock. "The above experiments on the luminous meduse were made at Herne, with the assistance of George May, Esq. of Stroud-house, and in the presence of a large company, capable of accurately distinguishing their results. "It seems proved by the, foregoing experiments, that so far from the luminous substance being of a phosphorescent nature, it sometimes shews the strongest and most constant light, when excluded from oxygen gas; that it in no circumstances undergoes any process like combustion, but is actually incapable of being inflamed; that the increase of heat, during the shining of glow-worms, is an accompaniment, and not an effect of the phenomenon, and depends upon the excited state of the insect; and lastly, that Leat and electricity increase the exhibition of light, merely by operating like other stimuli upon the vital properties of the animal. "In confirmation of these opinions, I may quote the high authority of the Secretary of this Society, who has found that the light of the glow-worm is not rendered more brilliant in oxygen, or in oxygenated muriatic gas, than in common air; and that it is not sensibly diminished in hydrogen gas. 66 I may further add, that Spallan zani's experiments of diffusing the luminous liquor of the medusæ in water, milk, and other fluids, are in direct contradiction of his own theory, as is also the extinction of the light of these mixtures by the application of a high degree of heat. "If the light emitted by animals were derived from their food, or the "In fact, the luminous exhibitions "The opinions of Brugnatelli and Carradori are connected with some general doctrines, respecting the nature of light, which I shall not at present venture to discuss. It appears to me, that the question is still unresolved, whether light has a substantial existence, or is a phenome non non depending upon certain operations or conditions of the ordinary forms of matter. But the highly ingenious researches of Count Rumford, on the laws of what have been called subtile fluids, and the extraordinary advances lately made by Mr. Davy, on the decomposition of substances, that were hitherto look ed upon as elementary, give us reason to hope, that future investigations may unfold views of the material world, of which we can at present have only an indistinct concep tion; that new modes of analysis may enable us to see things, not "through a glass darkly," but more nearly as they are; and that the boundaries of physical and metaphisical science, now so far asunder, may be made to approach each other. "In the present state of our knowledge, our business should be, to collect, arrange, and compare phenomena, rather than to speculate upon their nature. Neverthe less, I cannot refrain from observing, that the circumstances attending the luminous appearance of living animals, are much more favourable to the supposition of light being a pro perty, than a substance. The quantity of light emitted by an animal in a certain time, (admitting it to be matter) far exceeds that which could be possibly supplied by the sources, from whence it is usually supposed to be derived. Thus the luminous appearance of some meduse may be continued with the intermission of short intervals for an indefinite time, notwithstanding the creature be kept in darkness, and without any other food than what a small quantity of filtered sea water would afford. The uninterrupted and long continued light that is sometimes evolved by the luminous sacs, and the ova of the glow-worm, is also inconsistent with the notion of an accumulation and subsequent dispersion of a material substance. "I shall terminate this paper by an enumeration of the several conclusions, that are the result of the observations I have been able to make upon the phenomena of animal light. "The property of emitting light is confined to animals of the simplest organization, the greater num ber of which are inhabitants of the sea.-The luminous property is not constant, but in general, exists only at certain periods, and in particular states of the animal's body.-The power of shewing light resides in a peculiar substance or fluid, which is sometimes situated in a particular organ, and at others diffufed throughout the animal's body. The light is differently regulated, when the laminous matter exists in the living body, and when it is abstracted from it. In the first case, it is intermitting, or alternated with periods of darkness; is commonly produced or increased by a muscular effort; and is sometimes absolutely dependant upon the will of the animal. In the second case, the luminous appearance is usually permanent until it becomes extinct, after which it may be restored directly by friction, concussion, and the application of warmth; which last causes operate on the luminous matter (while in the living body,) only indirectly, by exciting the animal.-The luminous matter, in all situations, so far from possessing phosphoric properties, is incombustible, and loses the qua lity of emitting light, by being dried, or much beated.---The exhibition of light, however long it may be continued, causes no diminution of the bulk of the luminous matter. It does not require the presence of pure air, and is not extinguished by other gasses. "The luminous appearance of living animals is not exhausted by long continuance, or frequent repetitions, nor accumulated by exposure to natural light; it is, therefore, not dependant upon any foreign source, but inheres as a property, in a peculiarly organized animal substance or fluid, and is regulated by the same laws which govern all the other functions of living beings. "The light of the sea is always produced by living animals, and most frequently by the presence of the medusæ scintillans. When great numbers of this species approach the surface, they sometimes coalesce together, and cause that snowy or milky appearance of the sea, which is so alarming to navigators. These animals, when congregated on the surface of the water, can produce a flash of light, somewhat like an electric corruscation. When the luminous medusæ are very numerous, as frequently happens in confined bays, they form a considerable portion of the mass of the sea, at which times they render the water heavier, and more nauseous to the taste; it is therefore adviseable to always strain sea water before it is drunk. "The luminous property does not appear to have any connection with the economy of the animals that possess it, except in the flying insects, which by that means discover each other at night, for the purpose of sexual congress." POETRY. POETRY, ODE TO THE NEW YEAR. BY HENRY JAMES PYE, ESQ. POET LAUREAT. RE yet, 'mid Rhedecyna's bowers, By silver Isis's sedgy side, Crown'd with our Sovereign's opening sway, And pour'd the verse to that auspicious morn Which plac'd on Britain's Throne a Monarch Britain-born. Raptur'd I pour the Verse again To hail the British Monarch's lengthen'd reign, In which a King to Britain dear Bids every British breast with grateful lay From Thule's hyperborean reign, To where upon the Southern Main O verdant Erin, 'gainst thy Western shores, Wafting a Nation's plaudits to the skies: And while the hallow'd rites of prayer and praise Mild Charity with liberal hand Spreads her blest influence o'er the smiling land; Flows of benevolence the copious tide, Grateful, the boon while shouting myriads see, That dries Affliction's tear, and sets the Captive free. Though Though looking back through many an age The Man they love-the Sovereign they revere. Though seated on her rocky throne, That hangs malignant now o'er Europe's sky, And GEORGE'S sun decline in Glory and in Peace! W ODE FOR HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY. [By the same.] HEN loud the wintry tempest roars, When dash the billows 'gainst the shores, To happier hours when Spring again And leading on the rosy hours, Shall strew the teeming Earth with flowers; With young delight each bosom cheer, And wake to joy again the variegated year. Or if it chance the influence bland By Eurus' ruder gales if fann'd Though, to reckon from the accession to the demise, Henry III. reigned nominally 56, and Edward III. 50 years; yet, as the first acceded at nine years of age, and the last at fourteen, they did not either of them, in fact, reign so long as his present" Majesty has now reigned. When |