The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-12-12
DOWN UNDER THE SEA.

Forest and Stream has a communica-
ton from Com. Beardslee, commanding
the steamer Blue Light, assisted by
Prof. Verrill, of Yale College, from
which we copy the following passages
Cape Cod is dividing line upon our
coast. South of it one class of crea-
lures are found in profusion, but the
quohog clam (the Calista convexa), GER
tain star-fshes and worms, and the oys-
ter have not existed, or, having existed,
have become extinct north of this line,
except in very few localities. A live
C1tistG cO7lVeTG Ga species of CLAIM
brought up in Casco bay upset at once
the opinion held till then that it was
extinct so far north. Quohog shells in
plenty we find in ancient Indian shell
mounds, which dot every slope of the
island, showing that once they existed
in plenty. Now but one little bay,
mere cove at the head of Casco bay,
furnishes this creature, which, south of
Cape Cod, is but the common plentiful
clam. Oyster shells, of a size to which
saddle rock is but a pigmy, lie thickly
planted six feet below the present bot
tom of Portland harbor. They too,
however, are extinct. In that great
CONFUSION of nature that was so sweep
ing in its effects not living oyster was
left to fulfill mission. It seems sad
mistake up here, where oysters could
be eaten every day in the year, and the
nightly blanket renders superfuous the
mosquito bar. But the ocean is still
we'll filed, and with fruits and flowers,
with vegetables and plants, masons and
well-diggers, robbers and cannibals, and
each bearing in greater or less degree
a resemblance, either in appearance or
habits, to the creature or object above
water that it is named for. Way down
in the dark depths animal life utilities
every inch of ground, and no square
foot above the surface can equal in num-
Der or variety of forms the same space at
the bottom of thes sea. Strange, odd, hOr-
rible creatures, with none or many eyes,
with speckled bodies and long, Shiny,
clinging arms, changing at once their
form and size at will, and, like the genii
of the Arabian tales, from a mere start
ing point extend themselves almost III
definitely in size. Beautiful creatures,
too, as the anemonies and dahlias, at
first frightened and Jared as we see
them in the dredge, mere masses of pink
or purple flesh cover d with a tough
skin; left to themselves in cool, dark
place, they prelude from an opening in
their bodies, clusters of gay colored and
gracefully-moving antenn@, which in
some branch like coral, in others bear
close resemblance to the stamens and
petals of flowers. Down here the ami
NAL kingdom takes from the floral tribe
the duty of embellishing. Living,
breathing, food-devouring flowers, and
the kitchen garden too, and orchard, are
not unrepresented. Sea cucumbers
(PentGcctG .troTdosa), sea peaches (Cyr-
thiG 22yrif0rnais), sea pears (BOIte'ai0
cLaUGLG), and apples, are found in plen-
ty, the former so close a smile of the
fruit, both in form and color, that it
could be mistaken, the one for the other.
The flowers, though beautiful as they
are, are but brigands; those graceful
petals wave but to entice and grasp a
victim, which, when seized, is pressed
close to its mouth, and then, even if
larger than its captor, is swallowed
whole. The process of swallowing
whole morsel larger than the swallow
er, is rather an unusual proceeding
among animals, and of course an unusu.
| al method has to be adopted. The ane-
monte does it in this way Holding
| tightly its prey, it gradually prctrudes
| its stomach from its mouth, and turning
it inside out, envelopes its dinner, and
then it lies quietly awaiting death an
digestion. It rejects such portions as
are not suitable, and slows away its
stomach for future use. What bless
ing some men would esteem this faculty
| to be.
The sea cucumber is another curious
creature first found it small compact
"gherkin;" left to itself, it will swell
and develop to an immense cucumber,
| quite large enough to make boat of, if
the sea urchins had the same habits as
did those urchins of whom was once
| one.
Starfsh we find in great numbers and
varieties; different according to the
character of the bottom. The common
"tive-fngered Jack" is found every
where, and at each haul of the dredge,
whether from mud or rocks, GSteriS
Vulgarts is the first object called out
| to the note taker.