Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-01
From The Boston Trdceger.
EYE SIGHT OF FISHES, sc.


EYE SIGHT OF FISHES, sc.
The general opinions entertained ny r"!s'o-
logists, relating 10 the VISIONS oil nsnes' arc no'
satisfactory TO Ana'omis's. mai they sec uie
tinc,y. in YER, deep wafer, in the darkest night,
!, unouestionably true; but, how they disiin'
pui,h objects, and avoid their enemies, or pur'
sue their prey has long been question. The
structure Of the eye, in every species oil fsh Is
ne arly The same: the globe is large toe eornea
only SLIGHTLY convex, and the tapeium reflect
ing surface instead OF a secr eting one. In the
ewes Of all land animals, that see better IN day
lieh, that the night, the iapetum secre'es
dark piemen, to absorb thefays of light, whilst
only small quantity is secrsted IN cats, bats,
owls, &c. which see more distinctly in the dark.
This, then, shows, most conclusively, that the
concavi'y Of the whole eye, 1t no pigment be
present, like highly polished mirror, becomes
rejecting surface. Therefore however small
the quantity of light may be, II is reflected al
an anple, which must strike the lens, which a,
gain carries il back 10 that peculiar point OF
the re,ina, where the strongest image can be
made.
This is ONLY an outline, however, OF that
beautiful organic Structure in the hsh's eye,
which remains 20 be spoken OF in its aPproprl-
ate place Reasoning from analogy. and MI
mute anatomy, it appears very evident that The
phos phoresceDt light OF the ocean, is thar, oy
which the myriads or creatures In the mighty
deep, are enabled TO see when the rays oil the
sun are totally lost The Inhabitants OF the
STA, probably exceed by untold millions, the
creatures on the land and is il unpkilcso2hi-
cal to suppose that their visual organs are con-
struc ted upon such principles, that the opuc
nerve may be excited by the phosphore scent
ligh, given o1t by the element IN which they
live? Is i, not, indeed, calculated TO elevate
our minds, and to give US large field tor con-
,empla,ing the wonders OF that Creative Pow.
er, which has provided for the well being OF
every animated body? As II has been recently
ascert ainrd that many sea fowls, PARTICULARS
the common heron, Of our coast, allures the
small fish, in the night, by the phosphorrsc'nt
light of few yellow feathers on its breast, II
shows, in the most convincing manner, thai
their eyes is fitted for receiving This kind oil
light. Thus, while the surface Of he ocean Is
the great sun, 10 the creatures below, his 2hos-
phorescent light in the 6reas, OF tribe OF birds,
is he torch which nature has provided hem, TO
allure their prey:-it should DC recoliected, that
by daylight, they have poor success, and rare
Iy make the attempt, except the day be cloudy
| and dark.
said by those guessing PSYCHOLOGISTS who know
nothing of the subject that The mole, "Ialpa
Ewopeu,," is without eyes! Nothing is more
absurd. True their eyes are small and con-
cealed bu, as perfect In figure, and as deli>
| cate in structure, as in the lynx. They are SO
concealed by he ex;erna apparatus Of syc-lids,
| Membrane Mctitans, or night curtain, which is
| also voluntarily moved for wiping the dus, from
,bescorner or clear mart where the RAYS enter,
that one unacquan,ed with comparative anato.
my, wouldlprobably suppose they had none. That
they are enabled TO see, in the dark recesses OF
lAsv spHh ie 1MbifBu 'hfx by The fur of heir
own bodies, seems very probable. he lumi-
nous appearance Of tn" ocean, in the night, fa-
milar to every sailor and TO every water party,
becomes doubly interesting when natures OBJ
ject is understood. AS soon as a FISH is dead,
the decomposing flesh is well known 10 give
on, light. Thus, the water is lighted. The
dead, in fac, continually contributing 10
that aquatic sun, BY which the living see in the
darkest night below he unfathomabie pillows.