The Van Buren press., 1897-11-20
erEleRs IN PLACE OF EYES
.ome New Facts About Blind fsn-
Can live Long without FOOD.

S The most abundant species Of blind
esh ;s about five inches long when 1uii
crown. Its body is perfectly smooth
and its skin has no pigment, SO tha' Ii Is
translucent. and the entire fish mas
pinkish appearance, resembling
sl,i,nea catfish.n About the head, espe-
eia1ly in the young fish, are many eiia
Or feelers, giving a fuzzy appearances
In the case Of young fish. These ieeiers
take the place of eyes to some extent,
hut in spite of them the fish frequently
,rns AGAINST the wall Of its cavern or
some other obstacle. 1t is proteeted
from injury, however, by its long lo"el
law. which acts as bumper. In i.s
native eaverns the blind fish has prae-
tieally no enemies. 1t, therefore,
quite devoid of that shyness that ehaf-
aeterizes most fishes, and 1t may DC
taken with the hand, II care is observed
about making any sudden jar that agi-
tafes tbe water. BY means of its sensi-
five feelers it can recognize any motion
ahout IL In the water, but no amount OF
noise attracts its attention. for 1t seems
10 be as devoid of ears as Of eyes.
Il is not quite correct, however, to
Imply that the blind fish has no eyes.
IT is. indeed. absolutely blind, but it
nevertheless has the rudiments OF eyes,
reminiscent of that very remote time
when its ancestors lived in the light and
could see as well as other fishes. Prof.
Eiasnmann has made some highly I'M
nortant microscopic sections OF these
rndimentary eyes and compared them
with sections Of the eyes of normal
fishes. He finds In the degenerated eyes
rudiments of all the main layers OF cells
that are found In the normal eye, but
In very aborted condition. Thus the
crystalline lens is represented by q
mere dot. composed of but few micro
seopie cells. The optic nerve is even
more rudimentary, so that there Is ap-
so!utely no nervous connection between
the abortiye eve and the brain. 1'hns II
is absolutely certain that the blind fish
cannot detect the slightest trace oil
light with its rudimentary eye. Yet
strangely enough, il has been deter
mined bY Prof. Eidenmann that the
blind fish may appreciate the presence
Of light In some other way. Its native
eaFerns are absolutely dark-dark as nc
night in the outer world ever is. But
Il the fish is brought out into the light
II seems TO appreciate the change in Its
conditions. somewhat. perhaps, rs
plant appreciates the difference be
tween light and darkness. Doubtless
such q radimenfafy sensitiFeness t1
light as this may be a property Of al
aninlal bodies. but one that is over
looked IN view Of the highly developed
sensifiveneSs which the functional eyt
has deresoped.
Just Is the blind fish, though unable
/ 10 see. has an eve. so also il has the pig
men. cells in lis skin. though these ar
alone devoid Of pigment. The value O
pirmenfation of the skin Of creature
Of ordinary habitat Is protection from
he sun CT from the eyes Of other erea
lures. As the blind fish lives whers
neither sun nor ere penetrate. IL has NJ
need Of protective eoioration. But th'
fact that the unpigmented pigment
/ cells are still found in its skin show
! plainly enough that it IS descended
from a fish that had nse for such cells
Like the sightless eyes. these pignen
cells are proof Of the evolutionary orr
/ gin of rhe blind fish. and they supply
4 therefore, additional proof. where sucl
Is needed, of the truth OF the evolution
/ hypothesis. More than that, the depig
mented cells have q bearing also on III
questioa of variation through othe
processes than natural selection; for j
is argued ths. creature living in III
I dark. and. moreover. one having no pre-
dacious enemies. could be neither beDe
ated nor injured by the presence of pig
ment in It's skin; hence that natural Sc
/ lection pure and simple cannot aecoun
for the loss OF pigment. The blind ifs
so1id seem, therefore. in regard 70 II
rndimentary pigment cells, TO offer a
Illustration Of the change wrought By
changed environment and Of los
through disease.
This anomalous fzh has yet anothe
striking peenlizrity In its manner G
breeding. Instead Of 6epositiug he
eggs In The bottom OF the water, lik
most oths- SsAe<. the female convey
~ eggs 20 ksr gill eases where they II
z1zzz t5l rhey hstsh. and where for som
tz-= rk.- vozlv take refuge.
Fc'-s5 : probably not over abundau
zz ths dark Underground waters. bu
ss-aHs-elr TIE blind fish is hard
s-szsz-s- zs1s 20 tkrive Oa very uleags
s
Frr1 ESszZzn has shown ths
was1 EE1tss5 n an ordinary aquarium
tas grssa-E-~ VII I've for at least tw
-zrs I5s1EEzslv without foOd. an
uss1-z.1zzzss z-ps1r strong and health,
ssszrE F@z Specimens from h
ll--1sl-lIz1 were exhibited 70 the men
assrz & NJ british association. and a
ssaece,E mzzs.1 1zrszrScz from the fol
H1 ufzEisrs--Ie1i<sille Couris
I.1H-zaL
Fa11sss AMI Uses sf Gotten Seed VAST
-ar111-sesss1 xasts- whaeh } Eener.
nm Isr7s accumulated n tie Eiz-houxc
fTFssF ~ -.s ---u.s ,-v---.s.i n - : ~ Z