The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-14

tensity that it can be family seen even in
brightly lighted cabin. At night they
CLEAN in the sea with great brilliance, APP
pearing and disappearig as the shrimp
turns in the water. When the luminosity
is located in definite spot or organ, it is
always possible that a secreted substance
may be capable of analysis in the same
way that a common glow worm is found
to shine by reason of the formic acid Sc
erection.
Sometimes we gee in mid-ocean fiery
tracks left on the water of an indefinite,
serpentine form, which might well be mis-
taken for some monster of a sea serpent,
1t is probably due to the progression Of a
large, elongated fish. Wriggling away in
the distance, it assumes the apparent di
minsions of thirty or forty feet-a most
astonishing spectacle. The different cor
ruscations of the various sea organisms
are very noticeable. A starfsh radiates
bright uranium green, while the seapen
emits pale lilac colors comparable to the
flame of cyanogen gas. A certain shellfish
from a depth of 1900 fathoms or more
glows with a reddish-brown light, ana
some of the deep sea sponges are resplen-
dent in milk-white rays reflected thou
sand times among the fibers of spun glass
texture. Perhaps the most singular record
of phosphorescence is found in the Chal-
lenger record, where it is stated explicit
ly that the icebergs of the Southern ocean,
somewhere in the latitude of Kerguelen
Islands, showed faint CLEANS of whitish
luminosity at night
We might almost attribute this phenome-
non to reflection from the surface of the
sea, rather than anything inherent in the
ice itself. All these minute sea animals
are delicate and fragile to the last degree.
Take a specimen from it's native element,
and it perishes with q touch or falls to
pieces in your fingers. On the other hand,
the same structure Is able to Withstand
the fierce strife of wind and wave with
the greatest unconcern; however the
storm may rage, the frail life In the ocean
remains absolutely uninjured, even when
great ships are driven to destruction.
The contrivances to this end are infinite
In calm seas the creatures float on the
surface, especially in the night season.
Directly the elements contend and the
waves rage, the millions of small animals,
as If in concert, sink to the depth of few
fathoms. All manner of organic modifi-
cations exist for the purpose. Air cham
bers act as temporary floats when fully
expanded in the calm weather the infa-
ton being regulated as the creature rises
and falls, a process well illustrated by the
alterations in a Portuguese man-of-War.
The separate air chambers are like the
water-tight compartments of ship; II
one is damaged by any chance, the injury
can be repaired. And the same perfec-
ton in detail is demonstrated in a thou
sand curious ways amid the vast realm
of pelagic life
We offer no apology for dwelling for a
few moments on these phenomena, which
riveted the attention of Humboldt, Oar
win, Wyville, Thomson and Moseley in
their time. The opportunities for this in
vestigation become beautifully less as tri-
! pie expansion engines drive sailing power
! oiit of the field of competition, and unless
special scientific expeditions are fitted out
we can no longer hope to examine the
wonders of the deep during our sea jour
news