The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-06
OCEAN LlAMPLIGHYERS,
LANTERN BEARING FISHES AND QUEER
MARINE ANIMALS.


/, WIN lights Overhead and Under the
Chin--Lnminous Discs That Resemble
BnlI'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-
tnres that live in the sea, writes Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
World Sculpins engaged much Of their
attention. One species, known as the
4. sea robin, has pectoral fins resembling
hands. They are discovered to be act
nally 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. ii 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 finny
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. II is ass Yrofusely decorated with
lights as Il midshipman il with buttons
hence the 1fame Each of these
luminous discs Is complete bull s-eye
lantern on small scale, having lens
for concentrating the rays and refec.
tor behind ii composed of silicious
spicules The light comes from layer
of phosphoreseent cells beneath the re-
fiector and the lens,
No other known fish has such an
equipment for illuminating purposes,
There are d good many species which
have refiectors without lenses, while
others have lenses without refectors 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.
= It is veritable animated assemblage of
lanterns. There is wide variation
among deep-sea 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
likened 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 mucous from the modified
slime glands keeps running continually
down the sides Of the fish, rendering the
whole animal brilliant.
II is considered likely that these Ian
tern bearing fishes Of the depths, which
are chiefly head and mouth. and highly
carnivorous, 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
ont perceptible heat 1t would be of
enormous value to mankind if the secret
of this light which the fishes use for their
torchlight 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 TIE pur-
pose of finding out about the functions
! Of theAear, which in fishes is made to
some extent ON the pattern as III 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 on
this matter by removing 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 pro.
duced by cutting the nerves commune
eating with it.
Jelly fishes have likewise been made
subject Of study at the seaside biological
laboratories, and ever 50 many interest
ing things have been learned about
them. They have nervous system and
more complicated structure than most
people suppose. Many of them are lllos-
phorescent. The Eost remarkable Of
them all is the Portuguese lnan,d.
war" 1t looks somewhat like foot
ball as it floats on the surface of the
water, with 4 fringed top and coloied
blue and purple 1t is filed with
air, and from the body of:it many
stentacles 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
and paraiyze it by shooting into II hun
dredsF of small ,iarfS Tho darts .sra