In essence, it was a cluster of countless open-sea infusoria, of noctiluca an eighth of an inch wide, actual globules of transparent jelly equipped with a threadlike tentacle, up to 25,000 of which have been counted in thirty cubic centimeters of water. And the power of their light was increased by those glimmers unique to medusas, starfish, common jellyfish, angel-wing clams, and other phosphorescent zoophytes, which were saturated with grease from organic matter decomposed by the sea, and perhaps with mucus secreted by fish.
Inderdaad, het was eene oneindig groote opeenstapeling van weekdieren, van millioenen lichtgevende diertjes, ware bolletjes van doorschijnende gelei, met voelarmen zoo fijn als draadjes, en van welke men er ruim 800 in éen kubieken centimeter water geteld heeft.