It was a sight at once beautiful, and almost terrific.

Jack seriously inquired, if there was not a volcano at the bottom of the sea; and I astonished him much by telling him, that this light was caused by a kind of marine animals, which in form resembled plants so much, that they were formerly considered such; but naturalists and modern voyagers have entirely destroyed this error, and furnished proofs that they are organized beings, having all the spontaneous movements peculiar to animals.

They feel when they are touched, seek for food, seize and devour it; they are of various kinds and colours, and are known under the general name of zoophytes.
"And this which glitters in such beautiful colours on the sea, is called _pyrosoma_," said Ernest.

"See, here are some I have caught in my hat; you may see them move.

How they change colour--orange, green, blue, like the rainbow; and when you touch them, the flame appears still more brilliant; now they are pale yellow." They amused themselves some time with these bright and beautiful creatures, which appear to have but a half-life.