The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-09-10

M
lsTtsolliI sLE DEp1iis
- e "a ssastlinK struetures of tho
ss,s q 60 Dssr Creaturss Way
Hass nssn Crowded from the
s1f.ss y ths So
or = century OF more naturalists have
n0Wn . great deal concerning the
1s ganisns which dwell In the
shallow water next the shore. They
long ago learned the amazing richness
Of these 1itt0ral forms. The census Of
species amounts now to more than ion, 900
distinct forms; it IL, however, Of late
that they have aacertained that the deep
er parts of the ocean floors have also an
abundant and varied peopling. The
greater part of these shore jewellers are
exceedingly intolerant Of the enormous
pressure Of the deeper waters, as well as
Of the low temperature and total dark
mess 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-
i4 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-
uected with the animals of the deep
seas is the frequency with which we
lind their living specimens which remind
% Of kinds which in former geologic
periods dwelt in the coastal districts of
the oceans. It seems that many of these
ancient creatures. when they could no
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 part
At the world found an asylum, where,
amid the chengeless environment, they
have dwelt for ages unaltered. Thus
tho vast profounds of the deep have be-
come Q sort of almshouse, whereunto
antiquated forms have retired before
the overwhelming pressure which the
newer and higher life ever imposes on
IT'D ancestors.
From the results Of the relatively tri-
ling explorations which have yet been
made, there seems good reason to hope
that In time we may win from the deep
tho nearest living representations Of
many creatures which once occupied q
large place IN the seas, but now have
abandoned the fields of more active COM
bat, which are usually the seat of the
greatest advance.
In the profounder seas the invertebrate
lie appears TO have larger share than
. secured by the vertebrate or back
bcned animals; yet there are number
nf fishes known IN these depths, and it
seeuls likely that these tenants of the
deep may be numbered by thousands of
species Among the finned tenants of
the profounder parts of the ocean we
find the most startling departures from
Ehe types with which we are familiar In
coastal waters. In general shape they
differ little from their kindred which
dwell in the sunlit shadows.
The differences are largely in the
lmechanism Of the senses, especially of
tAe eyes These organs undergo sur-
tIiising variations with reference to the
enduring Of the darkness of these deeps.
In certain of the species the sight not
only fails, but the visual apparatus en-
tirely disappears; in others the eyeball
becomes very much enlarged and the
nervous apparatus incTaSsated, and are
evidently arranged to catch mere Gimp
res OF the light As it is certain that no
trace OF sunlight can ever penetrate
through the deep which overlies the
raalm where these animals dwell, the
adsptation Of these eyes 10 the needs Of
different vision at FIRST appeared to be .
veEv inexplicable matter.
Z Some recent discoveries provide ms
with Whist seems to Be IN adequate ex-
pI4nsti0n Of the enigma. II has been
e0r1fA that certain Of the denizens Of
10 deep sea floors have phosphorescent
r6rt1 81 their bodies which serve TO
give light IN . manner in which it II
isided 81 the familiar 6refiAs and
RiOwMot1ps. ss
t. end secured By these light giving
parts = probably the attraction Of ta1e
lexnal mates Of the creatures. In the
utx darkness of the ocean this indis-
D. Ill Ind could be attained Id no
spl1is M1y. Professor n. s. Shaler IN
sdzihneriA
WHIST EnAians Worship.
- nntraI conf uration of many
~ snggests tho human face,
0elI nOani6s cut out cf tho