The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-08-04
BELOW OCEAN WAVES
LIFE AT GREAT AND ALMOST uN-
FATHoMABLE DEPTHS.

FNl ElSWhDEG bEF
Strange and Startling Structures of the
Denizens of the Deep-Creatures Way
Down Have Been Crowded from >the
Surface of the Sea.
Tor century or more naturalists have
known a great deal concerning the
marine organisms which dwell in the
shallow water next the shore. They
long ago learned the amazing richness
of these littoral forms. The census Of
species amounts now to more than 100, 900
distinct forms; it is, however, of late
that they have ascertained that the deep
er parts of the ocean floors have also an
abundant and varied peopling. The
greater part of these shore dwellers are
exceedingly intolerant OF the enormous
pressure of the deeper waters, as well as
of the low temperature and total dark
ness which exists there.
Certain forms have, however, acquired
the ability to Withstand these peculiar
conditions, as generation by generation
through the geologic ages they have
crept away from the realms Of fierce
combat next the shores to the less con-
tested fields of the open and deeper
seas. Through all the geologic ages
this selection of especially prepared
groups for the singular stations or hab-
its Of the ocean depths has been going
on, with the result that those dark and
pressure burdened regions are now ten.
anted by eminently peculiar animals
| by species which ever surprise the stu.
dent who is accustomed alone to the
/ forms which dwell near the shore.
One Of the most striking features con
nected with the animals Of the deer
seas is the frequency with which we
find their living specimens which remind
us of kinds which in former geologic
| periods dwelt in the coastal districts oi
| the oceans. 1t seems that many of these
| ancient creatures, when they could nc
| longer hold their own against the more
| highly organized and developed animals
which inhabited the favored stations
| next the shores, shrunk away into the
| deep water, and in that undesired par
of the world found an asylum, where
| amid the changeless environment, they
| have dwelt for ages unaltered. Thui
the vast profounds Of the deep have be
come a sort of almshouse, whereuntC
antiquated forms have retired before
the overwhelming pressure which tht
newer and higher life ever imposes OF
its ancestors.
From the results of the relatively tri
fling explorations which have yet beer
made, there seems good reason to hop
that in time we may win from the deel
the nearest living representations o
many creatures which once occupied {
large place in the seas, but now hav'
abandoned the fields of more active com
bat, which are usually the seat Of tn
| greatest advance.
In the profounder seas the invertebrat
life appears to have larger share thai
is secured by the vertebrate or back
boned animals; yet there are a numbe
of fishes known in these depths, and j
seems likely that these tenants Of tn
deep may be numbered by thousands o
species. Among the fnned tenants o
the profounder parts of the ocean W
find the most startling departures fron
the types with which we are familiar il
coastal waters. In general shape the
differ little from their kindred whicI
dwell in the sunlit shadows.
The differences are largely in tn
mechanism of the senses, especially o
the eyes. These organs undergo SUI
prising variations with reference to tn
enduring of the darkness of these deepE
In certain of the species the,sight nc
only fails, but the visual apparatus er
tirely disappears; in others the eyeba,
becomes very much enlarged and tn
nervous apparatus incrassated, and ar
evidently arranged to catch mere glimI
ses Of the light. AS it is certain that n
trace of sunlight can ever penetrat
through the deep which overlies tn
realm where these animals dwell, til
adaptation of these eyes to the needs {
different vision at first appeared to be
very inexplicable matter.
| Some recent discoveries provide I
with what seems to be an adequate e,
PLANTATION Of the enigma. 1t has bee
found that certain Of the denizens {
the deep sea floors have phosphorescer
parts of their bodies which serve I
give light in manner in which it
| yielded by the familiar firefies an
glowworms.
i The end secured by these light givin
parts is probably the attraction of th
sexual mates of the creatures. In til
utter darkness of the ocean this indi
pensable end could be attained in L
other way.--Professor N. S. Shaler !
Il