The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-21
OCEAN LAMPLIGHTERS.
THEY TURN THEIR LIGHTS ON AND
OFF AT WILL

escent Marine Anim6lS-Some Facts
About Different Varieties of Fish and
Their Habits.
From the Nei0 York World
In the government biological laboratories
at Woods Holl and elsewhere along the
coast the scientists were very busy during
the last summer studying fishes and other
creatures that live IL the sea. Sculpins
engaged much of their attention. One
species, known as the "sea robin" has
pectoral fins resembling hands.
They are discovered to be actually 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 fisher
men call the family. is secreted by two 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 transformed
into phosphorescent spots, the same being
luminous Thus the tinny dweiler in the
dark unfathomed caves of the ocean carries
light about with it TO see by. One species
recently discovered is called the midship
man. 1t has luminous disks along its side
and belly, on its head and az the base of its
back fin.
In fact, 1t is as profusely decorated with
lights as a midshipman is with buttons
hence the name Each of these luminous
disks is a complete bullseye lantern on
small SCALE having a lens for concentrating
the rays and a 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 equip
ment for illuminating purposes. There are
a COOd many SpeCiaa which baVa rAHaotOra
without lenses, while others have lenses
without reflectors to brighten the glow of
their luminous spots. But the midshipman
Is the only marine dweller thus far discov-
cred which possesses both reflector aud lens
It lie a veritable animated Rssemblage of
lanterns. There is u wide variation among
deep-sea fishes as to their manner of carry
ing their lights. One kind has a barbel
hanging to It's chin, on the end of which is
suspended what might be likeued to an cleo
trio 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 lantern
bearing fishes of the depths, which are
chiefly head and mouth and highly carniv-
erous, are able to turn their lights on or or
at 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 eX-
tinguish his torches, whereas. when seeking
prey he can throw out search-hghts and
brilliantly illuminate his neighborhood.
This phosphorescent light is similar to that
of firehies, which Prof. Langley of the
T.. l. a.
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 IL the secret of this light which the
fishes use for their torchlight professions
under the ocean could be discovered. Un-
fortunately the nature of it is wholly a
mystery, all efforts to find out having
THUS FAR PROVED UNAvAILINa.
Sharks have lately been affording contri-
buttons to science. The biologists have been
vivisecting 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 hear
ing. 1t has to do with the sense of equilib-
rum. Light has been thrown on this mat
ter by removing portions of the auditory
apparatus OF sharks, which are thus rem
dered 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
animals that dwell in the ocean are the old
est in existence. According to the theory
of evolution human beings, as well as all
other land animals, are descended from
them.
1t Is difficult to realize that our ancestors
in the distant past lived under water, and
that they made their first vertebrate APP
pearance as seaworms; but scientific men
insist that such is the fact. Sharks are &C.
Iected for certain experiments because they
are the most ancient OF all surviving types
of fishes.
Jelly fishes have likewise been made IA
subject of study at the seaside biolo gical
Laboratories, and ever 80 many interesting
things have been learned about them.
They have nervous system and a more
complicated structure than most people
suppose. Many Of them are phosphores-
cent. The most remarkable Of them all is
the Portuguese man-o'-war" lt looks
somewhat like a foot ball as it floats on the
surface OF the water, with a fringed top and
colored blue and purple 1t is filed with
air, and from the body of 1t many tentacles
'DSAAAO hAASSN SSAAsS@SASo
AS MUCH AS TWENTY FEET LONG.
On coming into contact with an animal.
these long dangling arms Irvine about 1t and
paralize it by shooting into it hundreds Of
small darts. The darts are situated ell
along the tentacles, to which they are at
tached by threads coiled spirally when the
creature is quiescent.
But in response to any irritation they are
projected like so many poisonous needles
into the flesh Of the victim, which is drawn
within reach of the shorter tentaoles and
absorbed.
1t is believed that these darts discharge
an acid poison. The quantity contained by
each weapon is inf1nitesimal, but the wounds
produced by hundreds of them acting at
once are not to be despised. Bsthers in
waters where this jelly fish is found dread
1t very much.
On coming into contact with human
being ID winds its tentacles around him,
and 1t 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 fish are armed with
similar darts, as bathers who have met
with them know very we'll.