300 Dzvellers of the Sea and Shore 



about by means of its arms. Tubular processes grow- 

 ing on its body at the point where it detached itself 

 enable it to fasten itself to other objects for support. 

 As a rule, the individual colors of the animals in- 

 habiting the depths are uniform in tone. Stripes and 

 patterns, such as mark the creatures of the shore, are 

 conspicuously lacking; in those Cimmerian solitudes 

 there is little need for colors that warn or hues that 

 hide. The echinoderms range from yellow through 

 orange and red to purple, while the crustaceans are 



CERATIUS; A FISH WHICH INHABITS THE DEEP SEA. 



mostly crimson or pink. Fishes are generally black, 

 and nearly all of them are phosphorescent. Many of 

 the animals are blind, as if they had long ago aban- 

 doned the effort to see; their organs of touch are often 

 highly developed; and they probably lead an inactive 

 life, burrowing in the soft ooze or clinging to sponges 

 and other low fixed forms. 



Luminous fishes have, most of them, excessively 

 large eyes, seemingly adapted to catch the faintest ray 

 of light; and it is probable that these apparently more 

 active and predatory types are guided to their prey by 



