The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-10-02
Scenes on the Ocean Floor.

Besides the countless varieties of the
fucus, the bottom of the sea is overSrown
with the curled, deep purple leaves Of the
sea'iettuce, with large porous lichens, and
many -branched hollow algse. full life and
motion in their rosy little bladders, thickly
set with ever.moving tiny arms.
These plants form submarine forests,
growing one into another, in apparently
lawless order; here interlacing their branch
es, there forming bowers and long avenues;
at one time thriving abundantIy, ill the
thickest seems impenetrab!e, and then
again leaving large openings between wod
and weld, where smaller plants form a
beautiful pink turf. There a thousand
hues and tinges shine and glitter in each
changing light. In the indulgence of their
luxurious growth, the fuel especially seem
togratify every whim and freak. Creeping
close to the ground, or sending long.
stretched arms, crowned with waving
plumes, up to the blessed light of heaven,
they form pale green sea groves, where
there is neither moon nor star, or rise up
nearer the surface, TO be transcenden,ly
rich and gorgeous in brightest green, gold
and purple. And, through this dream. like
scene, playing in all the colors of The rain
bow, and deep under the hollow, briny
ocean, there sail and chase each other mer-
rlly gayly-painted mullusks and bright
shining fishes. Snails Of every shape creep
slowly along the stems, while huge gray.
haired seals hang with their enormous
tusks on large tall trees. There is the gi.
gantic dugong, the siren of the ancents,
the sidelong shark, with his leaden eyes,
the thick-haired sea leopard, and the slug
gish turtle. Look how these strange iii.
shaped forms, which ever keep the dream.
less sleep far down in the gloomy deep, stir
themselves from time 10 timcl See how
they drive each other from their rich pas.
lures, how they awaken in storms, rising
like islands from beneath, and snorting
through the angry spray! Perhaps they
Craze peacefully in the unbroken cool ofthe
oceans deep bed, when 10. n hungry shark
comes silly, silently around that grove; its
CLASSY eyes shine ghost-like with a yellow
sheen, and seek their prey. The sea.dog
first becomes aware Of the proximity of his
dreaded enemy, and seeks refuge in the
thIckest recesses Of the fucus forest. In an
instant the whole scene changes. The oys-
ter closes It's shell with clap, and throws
itself in the deep below; the turtle con-
cea!s head and feet under her impenetrable
armor, and sinks slowly downward; the
playful little fish disappear in the branches
OF the marocystis; Holsters hide under the
thick, clumsily shapen roots, and the Young
wallns 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 interviewer branches; at last the
more agile shark succeeds in wounding his
adversary's side. Dcspairiug of lie, the
bleeding walrus tries to conceal his last
agony in the woods; but, blinded by pain
and blood, he iaStens himself among the
branches, and soon falls an easy prey to
the shark. who greedily deyours him.
Patnam'S Magazine.