The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-01-14
IN THE SEAS ABYsMAL DEPTHS.
4 Walk Amid Coral Groves-shelly Forrna
- Fopnl IN Deen-Sea Mud-Iow Life.


Found in Deep-sea Mud-Low Life.
The results Of deep-sea dredging tend to
show that, the ocean bottom. which has
been supposed 70 be in absolute darkness,
is lighted by brilliant phosphorescence. !
believe that if we could find ourselves
upon the bed of the sea in 1000 fathoms,
we should see brilliant white lights, cast
ing intense shadows, Illuminating the
bottom in an effectual manner. The
groves Of coral would shine with this
light, shrimp and fishes would dart about,
spectre-like, over an illuminated pathway,
each carrying his own lamp, and the
whole ground would be one glow OF phcs-
phorescent light. The bottom animals
have eyes, and hence they have use toTi
them. for nature supports no useless
organ. One thing that is certain is that
,thcrc is practically no glimmer Of sunlight
in these great abysmal depths; and ur!ess
VIC admit that there is some such light as
I have mentioned, the presence OF eyes
can not be explained. Certain animals re-
tain q phosphorescent lustcr even atter
being brought to the surface, and it seems
but natural to conclude that in this way
the ocean bottom is lighted. -.
III, THE TREASURES OF THE DEPTHS.
The idrcdge comes up laden with its
precious load of 1deep-sea treasures, and
thee enthusiastic naturalists crowd around
to exraore the contents Mixed up IN
mass of mud are brilliant red starfshes,
deep purple sea pods, delicate pink: sea
anemoncs, pure white holothurians, and
ugly black fishes, all peculiar in many
respects While tie naturalists are busy
getting the animals ready for US tosee,
let us take bit of the mud into the lao:-
oratory and examine it through the
microscope. 1t will be, found to be COM
posed of countless numbers of micro
scopic shells, the tests Of Foraminlfera.
They are usually composed of carbonate
Of lime, but there are silicious 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 q manner which defies des-
cription Still othors are the most beau
tiful shade of pink, and some present IN
color a most delicate chocolate brown.
We find them tubular, coiled, crown
shaped, spherical, and oval, and il masses
of lobes upon lobes.
These beautiful shelly forms are allied
to Ammbe, so common in fresh water and
on damp leaves. They are one-aelled and
simple, the lowest forms of animal life,
yet capable of producing these regular
and perfect shells. These are the creatures
which have formed the English chalk
cliffs. Moreover, they are at this mo. -,e:.t
falling from the surface Of the seq in
continual shower upon the great ocean
abysses, and in conjunction with the forms
living on the ocean bottom, are forming
vast layers Of al oozy, clayey mud, which,
in the proper conditions, would produce
great strata Of chalk. ... .--.. ,..
LIFE IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM.
The animal inhabitnnt 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 mouth, ligest without a stomach,
and feel without nerves. When they wish
to move thcy send out 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. If the foot touches q diSestible
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 90 higher these become fixed Gs
oorp,nant orrnoS oO1 f1p newt hirhpr
step of animal life has ono part. of the
body ixca&s 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 stomach and any
part for q mouth. Although so simple,
they are wonderful because Of their very
simplicity Of structure, accompanied by
such complex powers. Ralph S. Tare in
New York Sun.