Arizona republican., 1892-12-06
LUMINOUS FISHES.
n SEA ANIMAL THAT CARRIES A
POWERFUL SEARCHLlGHT.

Finding Their Way About In the Dark.
How They Use Their Ocean Lamps.
Government biological laboratories
Ut Woods Holl and elsewhere along the
coast have been very busy studying
fishes and other creatures that live in
the sea. Sculpins engaged much of
Eheir attention. One species, known as
the ''sea robin" has pectoral fins re-
%mblng hands They are discovered
70 be actually organs of touch, and the
Ssh walks on them over the bottom,
&eling for its food as it goes. The slime
u these "toad fishes" as fishermen call
khe family, is secreted by rows of glands
al fishes have slime secreting organs
ID those which live in the depths of the
scean, 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
tweller in the dark, unfathomed caves
q ocean carries light about with it to
de by.
One species recently discovered is
xalled the midshipman. 1t has luminous
disks along its sides and belly, on its
head and at the base of its back fin. In
fact it is as profusely decorated with
lights as midshipman is with but
Conscience the name. Each of these
luminous disks is a complete bullseye
lantern on a small scale, having lens
for concentrating the rays and reflect
or behind it composed of siliceous spic-
xles. The light comes from layer of
yhosphorescent cells between the re-
&ector and the lens.
No other known fish has such an
equipment for Illuminating purposes.
There are good many species which
Rave refectors without lenses, while
others have lenses without reflectors to
Brighten the glow of their luminous
Etots. But the midshipman is the only
Marine dweller thus far discovered
which possesses both reflector and lens.
y is veritable animated assemblage Of
lanterns. There is wide variation
among deep sea fishes as to their manner
q carrying their lights. One kind has
q barbel hanging to its chin, on the end
or which is suspended what might be
6kened to an electric bulb, while an
gther sort upholdS us hght over us
lead on the highest point of its back
I'm. In certain species it is believed that
the luminous mucus from the modified
slime glands keeps running continually
gown the SIDES Oh the nsh' rendering the
whole animal brilliant.
IL Is considered llkeiy tnat these IAN
krn bearing hshes OF the depths' Which
are chleny mead ana mouth ana nghly
carnlVorous' are aOie 10 turn thelr nghts
on or OH at Will ms seems proDaoie
on account OF the nerves anu DIoou YES
sels communicating WIN the SHINE
glahds, whlch nave no other apparent
purpose mus the hllusliipniah may
nave MS power on approach Oh an enc
noy' 10 suddenly eAtinsuish MS Eorcnes'
whereas "heh seeking prey ne can
tnrow OUT search ilshts anu D OI,iliy
illuminate ms neishoornoOo' Inns Phos.
phoreScehI iigh' Is sihliiar W tha' Vi
nreiles' winch IroieSsor Langley Vi
.ne smithsonian inSVi'u.iol' uecIsres W
De Ihe most economical anu pelIecs ol
a. "no"h lights sNins tiio sie"'eos
hi .I WIN Tue le"'' waste anu
without PercepSIDie neat ~ wouiu DO
oi enoiinous Naluo 70 ilianAinu lne
secIet oi 'iilS ,lgus winch 'iie nSne9 use
.or 'nelr 'oIGiIiisn' plooessioHS r unuef
tne ucSa" Iouiu Do uioSo! ei.u. omioi,
'unaUeiy 'me iIaVuie y. ~ 70 wioily 4"
MY S'eIy' an eIioi'H " niiu ~ ou' nav ing
mus Ii, lar PiovoI ,.n Il'f aliilis r,.-
ShtihS nave ia.eiy Oeen "a anoruins COZ
.rlou.iohs 70 Soience' me oiOiosiS'9
nave Deen ViNiSectihS mem io[ Tue Pur-
pose Vi nluiiis ou' aoout 'ne iulioSioiiS
VI 'he ear, "niIn ~ n'neo % liiaue "
soiiie extent ne On vhe same pattern a' III
man. Inc lacI mas Deeh Known LOT
organ OF hearing. IL mas TO DO with the
sense Of equilibrium. Light has been