, 1885-12-17
U Ins sso.s asrsm.. - ID.


Found In Deep-Sea Mud-Low Life.
The results of deep-ss "a dredging tend to
show that the ocean cotton, which has
been supposed to be in absolute darkness,
is lighted by brilliant phosphorescence. l
believe that II we could find ourselves
upon the bed Of the sen In 1900 fathoms,
we should see brilliant white lights, cast
ing intense shadows, Illuminating the
bottom in a efectual manner. The
groves of coral would shine with this
light, shrimp and fishes would dart about,
spectrelike, over an Illuminated pathway,
u carrying his own lamp, and the
whole ground would be one glow OF phos-
phorescent light. The bottom animals
ave eyes, and hence they nave use for
them, for nature supports no useless
organ. One thing hat is certain is that
there Is practically no glimmer OF sunlight
in these great abysmal depths; and unless
we admit that there Is some such light us
l have mentioned, the presence of eyes
can not be explained. Certain animals re-
tain a phosphorescent luster even after
being brought to the surface, and 1t seems
but natural TO conclude that in this way
the ocean bottom is lighted.
THE TREASURES OF THE DEPTHS.
The dredge comes up laden with its
precious load of deep-sea treasures, and
the enthusiastic naturalists crowd round
to explore the contents. Mixed up In u
mass OF mud are brilliant red starfishes,
deep purple sea pods, delicate pink sea
anemones, pure white holothurians, and
ugly black fishes, all peculiar in many
respects. While the naturalists are busy
getting the animals ready for us to see,
let us take a bit OF the mud into the lab
oratory and examine 1t through the
microscope. 1t will be found TO be com-
posed Of countless numbers Of micro
scopic shells, the teste of Foraminifera.
They are usually composed of carbonate
Of lime, but there are s~ilicious species
also, and in the shallow waters, sandy
forms. Some are as smooth and
glossy as the best-glazed %chinawnre,
showing beautiful concentric rings
Of different hues, while others are rough
and lobed in a manner which defies des-
cription, Still others are the most beau
tiful shade OF pink, and some present In
color a most delicate chocolate brown.
We and them tubular, coiled, crown
shaped, spherical, and oval. and In masses
Of lobes upon lobes.
These beautiful shelly forms are allied
to AmubD, so common in fresh water and
on damp leaves. They are one-celled and
simple, the lowest forms of animal life,
yet capable of producing these regular
and perfect shells. These are the creatures
which nave formed the English chalk
cliffs. Moreover, they are at this momen
falling from the surface of the sea In a
continual shower upon the great ocean
nbysses, and in conjunction with the forms
living on the ocean bottom, are forming
vast layers of an oozy, clayey mud, which,
in the proper conditions. would produce
great strata of chalk.
LIFE IN ITS SIMPLEST oRM
The animal inhabitant is very simple,
being without any organ, yet capable Of
performing all the necessary duties of life.
They can move without muscles, eat with
out a mouth, digest without n stomach,
and feel without nerves. When they wish
to move they send out n ~pseudo-pod or
little foot, which may be any part OF the
elastic cell wall, and then the body
actually begins to flow from itself into
its foot. II the foot touches a digestible
object another smaller one is sent out,
and the two surround the object, join to-
gether, and thus two pseudo-pods become
one, with the object within. The ease
with which they can dispose of the cell
wall to accomplish this makes the whole
process seem like magic. 1t is in these
animals that we see the first formation of
temporary organs.
AS we go higher these become liked as
permanent organs, and the next higher
step of animal life has one part of the
body liked as a permanent mouth, another
as a stomach, while other definite parts
afford locomotive power. Here is life in
its simplest form, capable of using any
part Of its body for a stomach and any
part for a mouth. Although so simple,
they are wonderful because of their very
simplicity Of structure, accompanied by
such complex power.-Ralph S. Fare in
New York Sun.