Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-15
Scenes on the Ocean Floor.

! Besides the countless varieties OF the fucus
the bottom of the sea is overgrown with the
cured, deep purple leaves of the sea-ettuce, with
| large porous lichens, and many-branched hollow
alge full of life and motion in their rosy little
bladders thickly set with eyer-moving tiny
arms.
These plants form submarine forests growing
one into another in apparently lawless order
here intsrlacng their branches, there forming
bowers and long avenues; at one time thriving
abundantly, till the thicket seems impenetrable,
and then again leaving large openings between
wold and void, where smaller plants form q
beautiful pink turf There thousand hues
and tinges shine and glitter in each changing
light. In the indulgence of their luxurious
growth, the fuel especially seem to crafty every
whim and freak. Creeping close to the ground,
or sending long stretched arms, crowned with
waving plumes, up to the blessed light OF Heav-
en-, they form pale-green sea groves, Where
there is neither moon nor star, or rise up near
er the surfaced to be transcendently rich and gor-
geous in brightest green, gold.and purple. And,
through this dream-like scene, playing in all the
colors Of the rainbow and deep under the hol-
low, briny ocean, there sail and chase each 9TH
er merriiy gaily painted mullusks and bright
shining fishes. Snails of every shape creep slow
ly along the stems, while huge gray-haired seals
hang with their enormous tusks on large, tall
trees There is the gigantic dugong.the syren OF
the ancients, the side-lorg shark, with his lead
en- eyes, the thich-haired sea-leopard, and the
sluggish turtle.
Look how these strange ill-shaped forms,
which ever keep their dreamless sleep far down
in the gloomy deep, stir themselves from time to
time! See how they drive each other from
their rich pastures, how they awaken in storms,
rising like islands from beneath and snorting
through the angry spray! Perhaps they Craze
peacefully in the unbroken cool of the oceans
deep bed, when 10. hungry shark comes silly,
silently around that grove; its CLASSY eyes shine
ghost-like with yellow sheen, and seek their
prey. The sea dog first becomes aware OF the
proximity of his dreaded enemy, and seeks ref
uge in the thickest of the fucus forest. In an
instant the whole scene changes. The oyster
closes its shell with clap, and throws itself in
to the deep below the turtle conceals head and
feet under her impenetrable armor, and sinks
slowly downward {; the playful little fish disap-
pear in the branches of the marocystis; Holsters
hide under the thick, clumsily shapen roots, and
the young walrus alone turns boldly round and
faces the intruder with his sharp pointed teeth.
The shark seeks to gain his unprotected side.-
The battle commences; both seek the forest
their fins become entangled in the closely inter-
woven branches at last the more agile shark
succeeds in woundng his adversary sside. Des-
pairing of life the bleeding walrus tries to con.
ceal his last agony in the woods; but, blinded
by pain and blood, he fastens himself among the
branches, and soon falls an easy prey to the
shark, who greedily deyour him-Pufnaaa'
N11nzine -- f.t .'