Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-29

XSy3 otner creatures that
N0&S<lA live in the sea. Sculpins
AGRY engaged much Of their
A~ attention. One species,
known as the sea
robin" has peotoral
fins resembling hands.
They are discovered to be actually organs Of
touch, and the fish walks on them over the bot
tom, feeling for its food as it goes. The slime
OF these toad fishes" as fishermen call the
family, Is secreted by rows of glands. All fishes
have slime-secreting organs. In those which
live In the depths of the ocean, where is inky
darkness, the slime glands are so modified
to be transformed into phosphorescent spots,
the slime being luminous. Thus the fnny
dwelier in the dark unfathomed caves Of ocean
carries light about with it to by. One
species recently discovered is called the mid
shipman." 1t has luminous discs along its
sides and belly, on its head and at the base Of
its back fin. In fact, it is as profusey deco
rated with lights midshipman Is with but
tons. whence the name. Each of these lumi-
nous discs Is q complete bulrs-eye lantern on a
small scale, having a lens for concentrating the
rays and reflector behind it composed of
silicious spicules. The light comes from layer
OF phosphorescent cells between the reflector
and the lens
No other known fish has such an equipment
Tor Illuminating purposes. There are a good
lh"hy hPoeics WHICH, nave EtneCtOrs WltNOut
lenses, while others have lenses without
refectors to brighten the glow of their lumin-
GUS spots. But the midshipman is the only
marine dweller thus far discovered which pos
sesses both reflector and lens. 1t is veritabe
animated assemblage of lanterns There is
wide variation among deep sea fishes to their
manner of carrying their lights. One kind has
barbel hanging at Its chin, on the end of which
Is suspended what might be likened to an cleo
trio bulb. while another sort upholds its light
over its head on the highest point of its back
nm. In certain species it is believed that the
luminous mucous from the modified slime
glands keeps running continually down the
sides OF the fish, rendering the whole animal
brilliant
1t is considered likely that these lantern
bearing fishes of the depths, which are chiefly
head and mouth and highly carnivorous. are
able to turn their lights on or off ut will. This
seems probable on account Of the nerves and
blood vessels communicating with the slime
glands, which have no other apparent purpose
Thus, the midshipman may have the power, on
approach OF an enemy, to suddenly extinguish
his torches, while. when seeking prey he can
throw out search lights and brilliantly illumi-
nate his neighborhood. This phosphorescent
light is similar to that OF frefies. which Prof.
Langley of the Smithsonian Institution declares
to be the most economical and perfect of all
known lights, giving the greatest illumination
with the least waste and without perceptible
heat. 1t would be of enormous value to man
kind if the secret Of this light. which the fishes
use for their torchlgkt professions under the
ocean. could be discovered. Unfortunately
the nature of it is wholly mystery, all efforts
to find it out having thus far proved unavailing.
SHARKS AND JELLY FISH.
Sharks have lately been afording contrbu-
tions to science. Biologists have been vivisect-
ing them for the purpose of finding out about
the functions of the ear. which in fishes is made
to some extent on the same pattern as in man
The fact has been known for some time that
the ear is not merely an organ of hearing. 1t
has to do also with the sense of equilibrium
Light has been thrown on this matter by re-
moving portions OF the auditory apparatus Of
sharks. which are thus rendered unable to
maintain their balance in the water. The part
on which this faculty seems to depend is the
Labyrinth" and the same effect is produced
by cutting the nerves communicating with it.
Science Is paying much attention now to the
observation Of marine forms, because the ami
mails that dwell in the ocean are the oldest in
existence. According to the theory of evolu-
ton, human beings, as well as all other land
animals, are descended from them. 1t is diff
cult to realize that our ancestors in the distant
past lived under water and that they make their
trst vertebrate appearance as sea worms, but
the scientific men insist that such is the fact
Sharks are selected for certain experiments
because they are the most ancient Of all sur
viving types of fishes.
Jelly fishes have likewise been made a subject
of study at the seaside biological laboratories
and ever SO many interesting things have been
learned about them. They have nervous sye-
tenn and more complicated structure than
most people suppose. Many of them are phos-
phorescent. The most remarkable Of them all
is the Portuguese man-o'-war." 1t looks
somewhat like q foot ball as it floats on the
surface of the water, with Q fringed top and
colored blue and purple. 1t is filled with air,
and from the body Of it many tentacles hang
Apuvn 81 thnan Sn,A or1a
twenty feet long. On coming into contact with
an animal these long dangling arms Irvine about
1t and paralyze it by shooting into 1t hundreds
OF small darts. The darts are situated all
along the tentacles, TO which they are attached
by threads coiied spiraliy when the creature is
quiescent. But. In response to any irritation,
they are projected like SO many poisonous
needless into the flesh of the victim which is
drawn within reach Of the shorter tentacles
and absorbed.
It is believed that these darts discharge an
acid poison. The quantity contained by each
weapon Is infinitesimal, but the wounds pro-
duced by hundreds Of them acting at once are
not to be despised. Bathers in waters where
this jelly fish is found dread 1t very much. On
coming into contact with a human being it
winds its tentacles around him and it Is only
| with much difficulty and pain that they can be
removed, owing to the fact that the darts are
barbed. Many other species OF Jelly fishes are
armed with similar darts, as bathers who have
thcs Win 'uoul hHo" very we'll 1ney are some
| times called Sea nettles" There is curious
little fish that lives always inside Of the UNI
brellas OF jelly fishes presumably for the sake
OF the protection thus obtained. Being obliged
to leave its protector to procure food, it is
sometimes very amusing to observe it's efforts
10 get back inside Of the umbrella after it has
been out on foraging expedition. 1t is very
much afraid OF being wounded by the darts
and Is apt to lind much trouble in obtaining
an entrance without touching the business
parts OF the animal There are some email
Jelly fisbes which live under the umbrellas Of
big ones.
At Woods Holl some attention has been de-
voted lately to the study of horseshoe crabs,
which are more interesting animals than most
people imagine. To begin with, they represent
by far the most ancient type Of existing
crustaceans, resembling the "trilobites" of the
Palaeozoic age, which are found 80 plsntifully
in fossil-bearing rocks Of that formation. They
ssem strange survivors Of vanished epoch,
their very uncouthness of shape carrying the
observers Imagination back to an era when
m9pstrosities- overran the earth. One curious
thing ascertsined about them is that they are
nearly rel sted to spiders and scorpions.