The Mighty Deep 



during its approach, we see many creatures con- 

 gregated, swimming and whisking round, evidently 

 making use of the glimmer to catch their prey. 



When it has come close, we find the light to 

 proceed from a soft -bodied jelly-like animal, 

 which, as it travels, carries its own illumination 

 with it. Had we in upper regions such power 

 to shine for ourselves, we should be delightfully 

 independent of artificial light after dark. 



At first our impression is that the sub-ocean 

 lamp must be a very uncommon phenomenon. 

 But as we go on we encounter another and an- 

 other different indeed in species, yet alike in 

 the possession of natural light-giving organs. 



It dawns upon our minds gradually that, even 

 in ocean-depths, the law of compensation is not 

 unrepresented. Even those dark regions, cut 

 off though they are from all rays of sunlight, 

 do not lie under total midnight blackness un- 

 relieved. Even here, in these desolate nether- 

 most parts of the ocean, creatures with eyes may 

 live, and may find a good use for those eyes. 



For glimmer after glimmer is seen ; and jelly- 

 like animals under our feet, when accidentally 

 touched, give forth rays, sometimes rays of many 

 colours ; and fishes, as they flash past, lend oc- 

 casional gleams ; and larger uncouth monsters do 



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