The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-30
OCEAN LAMPLIGHTERS.
LANTERN BEARING FISHES AND QUEER
MARINE ANIMALS.
some Interesting observations-scuipin
with lights Overhead and Under the
Chsa-Luminous Discs That Resemble
RuII's-Eye Lanterns.

Government biological laboratories at
Woods Holl and elsewhere along the
coast were very busy during the last
summer studying fishes and other crea-
tures that live in the sea, writes Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
World. Sculpin4 engaged much of their
attention. One species, known as the
" sea robin, has pectoral fins resembling
hands. They ere discovered TO be act
ually organs of touch. and the fish walks
on them over the bottom, feeling for its
food as it goes The slime Of these
toad fishes, as fishermen call the fam,
lily, 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 as TO be trans
formed into phosphorescent spots, the
slime being luminous. Thus the tinny
dweller in the dark unfathomed caves OF
ocean carries light about with it to see
by. One species recently discovered is
called the midshipman. 1t has luminous
discs along its sides and belly, on its
head and at the base of its back fin. 10
fact. 1t is as profusely decorated with
lights as a midshipman is with buttons
hence the name. Each of these
luminous discs is complete bull's-eye
lantern on small scale, having lens
for concentrating the rays and a refiec-
tor behind it composed of silicious
spicules The light comes from a layer
of phosphorescent cells beneath the re-
Hector and the lens.
Ne other known fish has such an
equipment for Illuminating purposes.
There are a good many species which
have refectors without lenses, while
others have lenses without refiectors to
brighten the glow of their luminous
spots. But the midshipman is the only
marine dweller thus far discovered
which possesses both reflector and lens.
1t is a veritable animated assemblage of
lanterns. There is a wide variation
among deep-se fishes as to their manner
of carrying their lights. One kind has
barbel hanging to its chin, on the end
of which is suspended what might be
hkened to an electric bulb, while another
sort upholds its light over its head on
the highest point of its back fin. In
certain species it is believed that the
luminous mucus 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 Ian
rn-bearing fishes of the depths, which
are chiefly head and mouth and highly
carniyorous, are able to turn their lights
on or off at will. This seems probable
on account of the nerves and blood-ves-
sells 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; whereas, when seeking prey, he
can throw out search lights and bril-
liantly illuminate his neighborhood.
This phosphorescent light is similar to
that of firefiies, which Prof. Langley, of
the Smithsonian Institution, declares to
be the most economical and perfect of all
known lights, giving the greatest illu-
mination with the least waste and with
out perceptible heat 1t would be OF
enormous value to mankind if the secret
of this light which the fishes use for their
torchhght 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 unavasing.
/ Sharks have lately been affording con
/ tributions to science. The biologists
have been vivisecting them for the pur-
I pose of finding out about the functions
of the ear, which in fishes is made tc
some extent on the 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 with the sense Of
equilibrium. Light has been thrown or
this matter by removing portions of the
f auditory apparatus of sharks, which are
thus rendered unable to maintain theil
balance in the water. The part on which
/ this faculty seems to depend is tn,
" labyrinth, and the same effect is pro
duced by cutting the nerves communi
eating with it.
Jelly fishes have likewise been made {
subject of study at the seaside biological
Laboratories, and ever so many interest
ing things have been learned abou
them. They have nervous system ant
a more complicated structure than mos
people suppose. Many of them are phos
phorescent. The most remarkable o.
them all is the Portuguese man-o'
war 1t looks somewhat like a foot
ball as it floats ON the surface of tn,
water, with a fringed top and coloreG
blue and purple. 1t is filled with
! air, and from the body of it many
tentacles hang down. Some Of these ten
| tacles are as much as twenty feet long
| On coming into contact with an animal
these long dangling arms Irvine about il
ana paralyze it by shooting into II hun
dreds of small darts. The darts are
Situated all along the tentacles, TO which
they are attached by threads coiled spir,
ally when the creature Is quiescent. But
IN response TO any irritation they are
projected ike so many poisonous needles
1 TT. A.1H = Il