The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
ABODES OF MARINE ANIMALS
MOIuSk HOIlOwS House in Sea Urchin'S Spine.
JeIIyfiSh Umbrella Shelter.

Many OF the marine animals re-
marked a well-known naturalist 20 the
New York Tribune reporter. either con-
struct very odd homes or else utilize
extraordinary objects, either animate or
manimate, as such.
zone Of the oldest OF homes inhabited
by a marine animal is that Of Fieras-
ferida. small, eel-like fish. generally
ghostly white in color. but so translu-
cent that It's internal organs can be dis
tinctly seen through the walls OF its
body. It is noted for its very singular
habit OF living chiefly in the interior OF
other animals especially holothurians.
The latter animal is also known as the
sea cucumber. as Il somewhat resembles
IN shape the common vegetable. and Is
found in pretty much all seas. When
free IN the water the FISH swims head
downward, with tail curved toward the
back by undulatory movements Of the
anal I'm. Coming TO a holothurian lying
at the botto,a. It eagerly seeks the pos
terror aperture OF the animal. through
which the hoIothurian expels and sucks
in water Taking advantage Of this, the
FISH. during the act or expulsion by the
animal. pushes its head into the orifce
and. curving its tail to one side, by a
rapid recOn movement introduces itself
;ail foremost, into the intestinal canal.
pushing further and further in with
every suction OF its involuntary host
AT last the fish has its whole body lodg
ed in its new home, and with its head
near the anus OF the holOthurian is In
position to prOtrude II In search OF food
when hunger impels. Occasionally il
leaves its host for short periods. looking
then Ike a veritable ghost OF the sea
with its peculiar color and transparency.
Fish Imbedded I'm Oyster.
Occasionally this fish makes its home
within the shell Of the pearl oyster The
Museum OF ComDartive Zoology al Cam
bridge, Mass, has a pearl oyster shell in
which can be seen imbedded In the sub
stance OF the shell a freasfer. In this
case the FISH probably made the fatal er-
ror Of pentrating between the mantle and
the shell Of the oyster instead Of intro
ducing itself between the two halves OF
the mantle. This caused Irritation 10 the
mollusk. which II resented by immediate
ly secretlng the substance with which the
intruder is now covered. In the speci-
men IN question the fish Is covered with
a thin layer OF pearly substance. through
which not only the general outlines Of
the body but even the eye and mouth.
can be seen. The time required 10 imbed
the FISH must have been very short as
decomposition did not have time 20 set IN.
In New South Wales II has been OBJ
served that Nomeus gron0vIl. a fish re-
markabie for Its enormous ventral fms.
which fold In a ventral groove. Is 10 be
found only on the coast when the physa-
Tia. or Portuguese men-of-war,' are driven
ashore, the ilsh swimming beneath them
for shelter. The physaHe has tentacles
which attain a length OF ten 70 twelve
feet, and which have such powerful
stinging properties that any animal com
ing IN contact with them Is instantly
paralyzed- Nomeus seems 10 be immune
10 their influence. however, and PLAYS IN
and out among them with impunitv
which is most remarkable when Il Is con
siderec that other fishes do not seem 10
possess this immunity
fairly common fish along our At
iantic coast IS the hag fish. or borer. The
second or these names indicates one OF