COMPANION SAVANTS. 69

waves like so many red-hot balls, one of which we
observed apparently not less than twenty feet in
diameter. In some places columns of fire, eliciting
sparks, are thrown up from the bosom of the deep;
in others, clouds of light and phosphorus are seen
traversing the waves in the midst of darkness;
added to which are cones of light revolving round
their own axes, splendid garlands, incandescent
parallelograms, and serpentining illuminations.
Occasionally the ocean appears decorated with an
immense scarf of moveable and wavy light, the
ends of which exceed the limits of sight.” What
were all the marvels of the enchanted grotto
compared with these exquisite natural illumina-
tions exhibited on the mighty waves of the sea!
The impression which this wonderful phenomenon
made on our naturalist, and the peculiarities pre-
sented by the organisation of these zoophytes,
which, on examination, he found to assume suc-
cessively all the colours of the rainbow, determined
him to investigate this class of animals; and during
thewhole voyage he and M. Lesueur, one of his com.
panion savants with whom he formed a close friend-
ship, were ever watching at the ship’s side, that
they might collect all they could procure. Peron
was no great artist himself, but his friend drew,
under his direction, those varied and beautiful
animals. ‘The two laboured in concert; the one