, 1876-03-04
2Njstrl(NntoUs.
EXubcrnncc of Life in the DePaias
Of the Ocean.

III tbe VfcbHs
Shall VIC shy the play of lic is pleasing Ia
the Dcitii Everywhere We see, or we sen
-a'e, TINT greet and ihcomprrhcnsihlr mani.
,rsatiUu ~ HIS omnipntcncc. Myriad. q.
animals and plants people the earth and thr
ar with t'rus of grace and beauty: hut'n
nn part lnrS the Cnutivc power rrvrul itself
with more "f grandeur and mugniiicrnrr
tdnn IN the ahysSrS of Ocean. rhrrr, in
hcl, my br discovered the principles of nj
| llir.. Ii the inspired account OF the crvH
liun we urr told thai IN the hrginn ny"
the Sp r,t ot G"l "mnvcd upon the laCe ~,
tue " tcrS' The surface uf the Sun is less
var Il than That Ot the dry lnI; hut lO *
,e p into its bosom, and no region of the
rurtn Cuu Il give ~ vivid un i,l,H Ot' the pXu-
! bcUncr Of lite F'rm> the most unrXp ctrd
/ u ic0mdty III most marvellous. challenge
nur admiration utrv"y step we take through
these wonderful giOn|. Here, to all mp
! pcarnnre isa plant, II miniature tree gr Nv.
my upon rock its branches ARE vrrdurr
l,ss, hut, strange to say, flowers OF the most
! brilliant colours spring from their extr mi
tics. The petals have the power Of motion
unl ly tn motion they cause min,turc
current to flow increasingly towards them
!
drawn into this prrprtually renewed stream,
Tor 1t flows into the mouths of the zoInb)la.
| ria, or animal flower to which they serve for
food
Scc!-thcre Grr two eyes sparkling in the
sandy bottom. A living form, which cscap.
cd our obs rvation before, drtlcLcs itself as
| if u leaf rose, undulnting in the water. after
having stirred up around it II cloud oi sand
! pr 0thrr'carthy PARTICLES, That living form
is turlpt or a sole. AT the least hint of
danger il will rrtrnt to the huttnm. and,
disppsing itself Hat upon the SIN or mud,
etUme almost invisible. THIS ru,e is the
only means of defence possessed by these
creatures, and almost any other fish is bold
enough tn m Ike them its prey. 1t is worth
noting that one side ot the boly is white,
| the other Ton which the eyes urc pMcrd) IS
| grcrnislI-brOwn, resembling the bottom OF
! the sea.
| And that bundle of scrpcnts in violent
/ agitation at the entrance Ot Hii ocean. cavern
| How they twne aud wrilhe rs they s,iz'
upon The living prey which an ryll destiny
draws into their uclgLb IurnOnd Suddenly
| they launch lhrm,c,vrs prrCIp tatrly out
Ot their darksOmr retreat; II bOIy Ot sOMe
kind, armed VITA II sharp beak, has clutcncd
mold at the creature; too enormous eyes
| light the march Ot more hIdrous monster
tnan Imagination cvef d'pIatcd Bur "A gi,
guntic form advances rpIdly against it. a
| terrible struggle seems imminent No the
monster with the long arms vomits black
poison; the wutcr To u great distance
around it is filled with d,nse fog; the
enemy reurcs, and the prulpe CONTINUES to
hunt lis prey in II domain which few ari.
mals dare approach,
The unGnmly bulk Of the various kind Of
whales; the elegant Orm' ot thearg ,narra
the crab IN his co1t.o,-mail; the sea urchin,
wnicn one would with di,iculty recOynls.
for m animal il il were not tor tur singular
movement nf his spincs and his Locomotive
suckers; the innuncrable swarm. Of f.h
which everywhere turrow the ocean, thicker
than bird1 and insects wing the air; the i'm.
mcnae ahoalG Of meduGB transported by the
marine cur!euls like clouds Of locusts on