Living lights : $b A popular account of phosphorescent animals and vegetablesHolder, Charles Frederick
Science
Living lights : $b A popular account of phosphorescent animals and vegetables
Holder, Charles Frederick
Animals; Bioluminescence; Phosphorescence
[29] PAGE 32. _Astrophyton._ There are several species of this
star-fish, but each found in deep water. They are curiously
circumscribed in locality. In one place off Cape Cod they are
dredged, but in no other place, excepting farther south. Their
name, basket-fish, is from their numerous intwined arms, resembling
basket-work.
[30] PAGE 37. _Serpula._ A genus of the group _Annelida_.
[31] PAGE 37. _Neiridæ_ and _Eunicedæ_. Genera of the group _Annelida_.
[32] PAGE 37. _Polynoidæ_, _Scyllidæ_, _Chætopteridæ_, and _Polycirus_.
[33] PAGE 38. _Chætopterus norvegicus._
[34] PAGE 39. _Harmothoe imbricata_ emits a bright greenish light
when disturbed, the luminosity evidently proceeding from the point of
attachment of each dorsal scale.
[35] PAGE 40. _Pholas._ A clam-like mollusk. Several species are
found on Nahant beaches. _P. dactylus_ is a European form. The genus
_Zirphæa_ is found from New England to Great Britain. All are more or
less borers. A small species bores in hard mud on the Nahant beaches.
Others are known to bore into hard wood and into stone.
_Pholas dactylus_ will be seen to have photogenic or light-emitting
structures and substances almost concealed in the tissues of the
animal. The light-emitting portions are, according to Panceri, “two
parallel cords containing an opaque white matter extending down the
anterior siphon, two very small spots at its entrance, and finally an
arched cord corresponding to the superior edge of the mantle, reaching
to the middle near the valves. The white color of the cords, which
stand out in relief, distinguishes them; and, although they are only
elevations of the subcuticular tissue, they contain special cells,
or rather epithelium, which produces the phosphorescent matter. The
whole surface of the Pholas is covered with ciliated epithelium, which
dips down into all the parts of the animal; but the special epithelium
differs from this. It is nucleated and crammed with granules, and
the cells are very refractive. The cells are very fragile, and allow
their contents--i.e., granular nuclei and refractive granules--to
escape readily. These are soluble in ether and alcohol. Under ordinary
circumstances this photogenic apparatus is hidden; but violence readily
displaces the special cells, which burst, and their contents are
carried all over the surface by the water, assisted by the general
ciliation. The white substance, fat-like, retains its luminosity, when
spread out on paper, for hours; but the light does not appear to be
accompanied by an evolution of heat. When it is placed in carbonic acid
gas, the light pales and ceases. On the other hand, the photogenic
substance, when barely luminous, is rendered so by physical contact.
Agitation, and the addition of fresh or salt water, develop the light,
and the same effect is produced by electricity and by heat. The light
is monochromatic, and has a constant place in the spectrum as an azure
band from E to F, that is to say, in the green.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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