Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-09-30

bo found in 90 small a space. What the group
represents is a number of fishes whlch are III
nature scattered over a vast area anu thlousn q
great height of water, here brought tosether =
museum purposes into a few square feet OF space'
Each fish is reproduced accurately Win us pnos'
phorescent pores and t~entacles as these are
known 10 exist. With one or two exceptions
thew are enlarged several times, as the nsnes
themselves are very small. And since It Is known
that the phosphorescent organs do not glow
with a steady light, the illumination OF the group
has been arranged so as to have these luminous
organs flash intermittently. Furthermore, tne
installation is arranged so that one may view
the fishes for a few seconds In full light, as IL
in a synoptic exhibit, and then see them, Wnen
the light goes out, as they are supposed 70 appear
in the darkness Of the profound depths. III up
only by their own phosphorescent organs.
Near the top of the group is seen a nsh Wnicn
lives on the border line between the region OF
dimness and total darkness. Many Of the fishes
living In this region are not Of a uniform somper
hue. but are brilliantly colored. Neoscopelus IS
one Of these. The body is zone dazzling sheen
of purple and silver and FURNISHED gold, amid
which is a sparkling constellation of luminous
organs" (Alcock).
The glowing fish in the center is Barathronus
diaphanus, a small fish known from a single
specimen, which was dredged in the Indian
ocean at a depth of a little over four-ffths Of a
mile. The model of 1t is one and one-half times
the natural size. The phosphorescent fish with
the curious long tail Cat the right Is Gigantura
chuni. 1t, also, is known by only a single speci-
men. This was brought up from a depth OF four
ffths of a mile in the Gulf Of Guinea, on the
west coast of Africa. The model is twice the
natural size.
The two dark fishes with enormous gaping
mouths (near the top, at the right are Gastros-
tomus bairdi. This species is commone than
some of the others, a number of specimens being
In several museums. The models of it in the
group are copied life-size from a specimen In the
museum. The species occurs in the Atlantic
ocean, near the American coast, in the path of
ocean liners. Specimens have been dredged from
a depth of nearly three miles.
Near the bottom of the group at the left-hand
side, is seen an eellike fish with a line of lit-up
pores. This is an enlarged model of Styloph.
thalmus paradoxus, a small silvery fish widely
distributed in all the oceans, whose young also
are known. The generic name 1t bears was given
it in allusion to the fact that the eyes are
perched on long slender ~tentacles. The species
ranges from a depth of a little less than a mile
to two and one-half miles. Another form will
tentacles is Gigantactis vanhoeffeni, a species
typical of many ~deep-sea fishes which have
tentacle, terminating in a luminous organ, at
tached to the head. This t~entacle serves as
lure for attracting prey. The present specie
is known by only two specimens which wei,
found in the Indian ocean at a mile and a mil
and a half from the surface. The creature is
very small fish, the model being enlarged 81
times.