. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 1192 TUNICATA. Family PYROSOMIDJE. Synonyms : Lucies composees, Savigny ; Tuniciers reunis, pars, Lamarck ; " les agreges,'" pars, Cuvier; Sal- piens agreges, Blainville; Lucidee, MacLeay; Pi/rosomiens, Milne-Edwards and Van Bene- den. The Pyrosomians are represented by three or four species of the single genus Pyrosoma. They inhabit the Mediterranean and the warmer parts of the ocean ; in the former at times their abundance is a source of dread to the fishermen, sometimes even completely clogging their nets ;
. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 1192 TUNICATA. Family PYROSOMIDJE. Synonyms : Lucies composees, Savigny ; Tuniciers reunis, pars, Lamarck ; " les agreges,'" pars, Cuvier; Sal- piens agreges, Blainville; Lucidee, MacLeay; Pi/rosomiens, Milne-Edwards and Van Bene- den. The Pyrosomians are represented by three or four species of the single genus Pyrosoma. They inhabit the Mediterranean and the warmer parts of the ocean ; in the former at times their abundance is a source of dread to the fishermen, sometimes even completely clogging their nets ; and in certain oceanic regions they are met with in almost incredible profusion. Their delicate and transparent forms, their elegant tints, and their unrivalled phosphorescence render them the most beau- tiful of Molluscs, and objects of admiration to the naturalist and the voyager. Mr. Bennett relates that, during a voyage to India, the ship, proceeding at a rapid rate, continued during an entire night to pass through distinct but extensive fields of these Molluscs, float- ing, and glowing as they floated, on all sides of her course. Enveloped in a flame of bright phosphorescent light, and gleaming with a greenish lustre, the Pyrosomes, seen at night, in vast shoals upwards of a mile in breadth, and stretching out till lost in the distance, present a spectacle the glory of which may be easily imagined. The vessel, as it cleaves the gleaming mass, throws up strong flashes of light, as if ploughing through liquid fire, which illuminates the hull, the sails, and the ropes with a strange unearthly radiance. Genus Pyrosoma, Peron. — Common body semi-cartilaginous, floating, cylindrical, 2 to 14? inches long, | to 3 inches in circumference ; bearing externally numerous pointed pro- cesses, hollow and mammillated within, and open at one of its extremities only. Animals associated in a verticillate arrangement, having two orifices, one at each extremity ; elongated, fusiform, taper
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