This is eminently the case in regard to some fishes. A species of fish called PHOLAS, has the power of evolving a large quantity of light. This power is greater when the fish is sound and fresh. Pliny mentions this fish, and says it rendered the hands and clothes of persons luminous. When put in water, under proper circumstances, it renders the water luminous. But when put in milk, a single _pholas_ made seven ounces of it so luminous as to enable one to distinguish the faces of persons present. _Ency. Brit. Art._ LIGHT. The evolution of light from the sea in the night, is a fact of common observation, and is sometimes so great as to enable one to read large print on a ship’s deck. _Ency. Brit. Art._ LIGHT. In all the above instances, and many more might be added, the light evolved, or, (which is the same thing in this investigation,) the luminiferous ether put in motion, must have been in a state of combination with the substances from which it was evolved. The only question which remains is this: _Was all this light transmitted from the sun, and become latent and combined at the earth’s surface by absorption?_ It would certainly be hazardous to answer this question in the affirmative. For how could we account for the evolution of light from those bodies which have never been subject to the sun’s influence? Again: If all this light had been transmitted from the sun, it will inevitably follow, that there was a time when the quantity of light at the surface of the earth, and in combination with terrestrial bodies, _was very small_, and of course combustion, friction, and compression of bodies produced anciently a much smaller quantity of light than now; because there was a smaller quantity in combination. It is evident that this supposition would come to this conclusion: _The quantity of light, in combination at the earth’s surface, has increased in the same ratio as the increase of the duration of the influence of the sun on the earth: and, by consequence, the quantity of light produced by artificial means has increased in the same proportion._ Of course, fires and candles burn more brightly now than they did five thousand years since. Though this conclusion is legitimate from the foregoing supposition, yet it is at war with common sense, and the current observations of the world. We are therefore compelled to conclude that the MATTER _of light_ is diffused throughout the universe, as is caloric, and that it is evolved, or put in motion by the influence of the sun; as also by artificial and chemical means; as combustion, compression, friction, chemical action, &c.