Living Lights

Appendix 169

BIBLIOGRAPHY 179

INDEX 185

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PYROSOMA AND DIVER (PLATE XVII.) Facing Title.

SEA BOTTOM. 1,500 metres, or one-quarter of mile in depth Facing Page 1

FACING PAGE

PLATE I. LUMINOUS PROTOZOANS--LUMINOUS PORTIONS OF NOCTILUCA 3

„ II. M. DE TUSSAN READING BY LIGHT OF PHOSPHORESCENT SEA 7

„ III. LUMINOUS SEA JELLY--LUMINOUS CORAL--PRUNING-KNIFE FISH 11

„ IV. LUMINOUS SEA JELLY AND MOLLUSK 13

„ V. VENUS’ GIRDLE 15

„ VI. APOLEMIA--CLEODORA--PRAYA 43

„ VII. BURROW OF PHOLAS--SEA PEN 39

„ VIII. LUMINOUS STAR FISHES. From 4,500 feet deep 29

„ IX. LUMINOUS BEETLES, ETC. 47

„ X. ANATOMICAL DETAILS 53

„ XI. LUMINOUS BEETLE, in burrow of Mole Cricket 59

„ XII. THE LANTERN FLY 63

„ XIII. LUMINOUS MUSHROOMS--LUMINOUS INSECT 137

„ XIV. SPIDER CRAB 75

„ XV. LUMINOUS CRUSTACEANS 79

„ XVI. CHAIN OF SALPS 89

„ XVIII. CHIASMODUS--SUN-FISH--PLAGIODUS--HARPODON--BERYX 97

„ XIX. LUMINOUS FISH. From depth of 8,100 feet 103

„ XX. LUMINOUS FISH 115

„ XXI. UMBELLULARIA--LUMINOUS FISH--SILICIOUS SPONGE--LUMINOUS CORALS--LUMINOUS CRUSTACEAN 125

„ XXII. LUMINOUS FISH. With two luminous disks, one emitting a golden, the other a greenish light 132

„ XXIII. DEEP SEA ANGLER 145

„ XXIV. PELICAN FISH 155

„ XXV. LUMINOUS WATERSPOUT 163

„ XXVI. LUMINOSITY OF HERON’S BREAST 109

1,500 metres, or one quarter of mile in depth.]

LIVING LIGHTS.

CHAPTER I.. Stars of the Sea.

STARS OF THE SEA.

Among the many revelations of modern science, none have a more absorbing interest than those relating to the illumination of the deep sea. Until within a few years the ocean has been a sealed book. The surface forms only were known; and it was assumed that, owing to the enormous pressure, lack of sunlight, and consequent darkness, Nature, at least in the abyssal depths, was at fault, and this vast region was devoid of life and incapable of supporting it.

Recent investigations, however, have shown the reverse, and that this great area, with its plateaux, its mountain ranges, and its isolated, coral-capped peaks, whose valleys are now known to lie miles in ocean depths, teems with living forms, and, far from being the dismal realm we had supposed, is a region of surpassing wonder; which we may, in fancy, term that lower firmament, where float sparkling, gleaming constellations, meteor-like disks and globes with trailing luminosity, single stars and nebulæ of living lights.

The phosphorescence of the sea is no new discovery, and those who have visited the seashore at night must have witnessed this phenomenon. The region of coves and beaches along the shores of Eastern Massachusetts, around Nahant particularly, is a favorable one for its full display. As the waves come rolling in upon the rocks, or upon the long, expansive shingle, in tidal measure, we see the foaming crest, seemingly igniting all along the line, more and more intense in brilliancy, when, with a roar, it breaks, masses of scintillating liquid upon the sands. We glide over the smooth portions of this sea, our boat leaving a golden train; and every dip of oar, or the dash of some affrighted fish, creates an equally vivid display. Even when not disturbed, looking down into the calm, clear depths, the same phenomenon is witnessed. Pale, ghostly forms are seen here and there, moving slowly about, while the seeming silvery atoms suggest the nebulæ of this submarine sky. Deeper yet, the bottom shows weird splendors. The great kelps are bedecked with mystic lights, and gleam like diamond’s flash from ledge and rock.

These wonderful exhibitions of submarine illumination are due to the presence of luminous creatures, or in some cases to large animals swimming through immense numbers of small phosphorescent bodies, so appearing as light-givers themselves.

In nearly every branch of the animal kingdom we shall find these living lights; some marvellously brilliant, others glowing with dim rays, and all contributing often to wondrous illumination, far-reaching or circumscribed.

PLATE I.

LUMINOUS PROTOZOANS.

Noctilucæ (in milk).

Noctiluca miliaris (magnified 100 diameters).

N. miliaris (slightly magnified).

LUMINOUS PORTION OF NOCTILUCA

(highly magnified).]

If the ocean which contains these wondrous forms should suddenly become dry, we should find that its contour is very similar to that of the land. There would be hills, valleys, plains, mountains, and seeming river-beds where currents have flowed; and so sharply are these defined, where growing atolls and reefs abound, one may stand--as I have often done upon those of the Florida reef--and drop a leaded line almost directly to the bottom in the clear blue waters.

This submarine scenery would not show the rough and jagged outlines which are a characteristic of terrestrial mountain ranges. Nearly all prominences in water at a considerable depth are well rounded off by a coating of fine ooze, formed of the minute and delicate shells of the globerigina, one of the lowest organized of animal life. These little creatures live upon the bottom, or in the watery space above, and the ooze which makes the sea-bottom, in great thickness, is almost entirely made up of the dead and cast-off shells of these microscopical creatures. The chalk cliff of Dover, England,--that white headland which has given the ancient name of Albion to the mother country,--is an upheaved mass of the same material, once found in the ocean bottom, now elevated by some geological change, and hardened into chalk, which it really is. What a surprising monument, erected by Nature’s processes from the myriads of bodies of her most minute and most simply organized animals!

The familiar modern term “protoplasm” represents what is know to be the simplest form of life; scarcely more, seemingly, than a bit of jelly, without form, and we might say void of organization, for it is alive, and yet has no nerves, no organized vessels which we can perceive, but exists in our pools as the least organized animal known.

There is a species which belongs to one of the numerous kinds or groups of this the first and least perfect of the animal kingdom, which has also the great distinction of being the best known and most brilliant of marine light-bearers. This is the Noctiluca, or, as its name implies, the night-light. This little creature, but little more than visible to the naked eye, is the largest of the so-called infusorians; others of this group of animals requiring the aid of a microscope to determine the form. It is but little more in structure than the bit of protoplasm, or simplest organism or animal known. It looks when magnified--its natural size being about that of a pin’s head--much more highly organized than the others, by being almost a complete globe, and provided with a whip-like process or member. It is also veined somewhat, and reminds one of a currant or gooseberry. Now, it is often noticed that the smaller the animal, the more numerous; indeed, also, the more numerous its progeny. We may well be prepared, then, to hear that these minute creatures often swarm on the ocean surface in myriad masses.

Fig. 1. of Plate I. represents the Noctiluca magnified one hundred times. Fig. 2. of the same, represents the appearance of the creature when luminous, and only slightly magnified. The long lash which extends from the side is the locomotive organ. It is attached to the body near what is supposed to be the mouth; though these creatures are so simple that many kinds, just below in organization, have no definite mouth nor stomach, but absorb food from any surface of the body which comes in contact with it.

This infusorian and most potent of living lights, albeit of extreme minuteness and simplicity as an organism, is abundant in the ocean along the European shores, and is often seen in our north-eastern waters, notably off Portland harbor and along shore to Cape Ann. I have enjoyed the privilege of witnessing the fullest glory of this little creature’s effulgence. In our so-styled ocean firmament these living asteroids shine forth in those waters, and rival, if not excel, in light-giving any other known creature.

In the endeavor to study the mysterious lights, I spent considerable time on a rocky point which jutted out into the sea, at Ogunquit, Me., with my microscope at hand, as near as possible to the water; thus examining them while comparatively fresh from the sea. In taking up the little creatures, they assume a pear shape, from contraction,--the only evidence, seemingly, of life, but blazing with a flashing light over their entire surface. We had the advantage of having specimens fresh at hand, yet there are certain appliances indispensable for such work which we did not have, and, therefore, could not then perfect our dissections sufficiently to get satisfactory results. We must refer the reader, therefore, to the experiments detailed in the Appendix.

In watching the light of the Noctiluca, we are reminded of the flash-light of a light-house,--the gleam appearing and disappearing with considerable regularity. It is difficult to trace the light to any particular portion of the body. In Plate I., Fig. III., is shown the supposed luminous organs, which would seem to show that there are luminous spots. Sometimes the light seems to pervade the entire body; again, to be in the outer skin or cuticle. When the light appears after an intermission, the spots referred to become luminous first, the light extending to the outer surface.

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