THE LIVING STRUCTURES 125 



very hungry, as its spikes make it a very disagreeable 

 morsel to swallow. The strong covering and protective 

 color give it such advantages that it has been able to hold 

 its own with others in the struggle for existence in the 

 past, and is with us today and not numbered among the 

 extinct species. 



Another most wonderful individual is known as the 

 Stomiasboa or lantern fish. This fish is black with phos- 

 phorescent shining light in front, and two rows of bull's 



FIG. 20 Stomias boa or Lantern Fish. The white dots are the luminous 

 organs. 



eye lanterns the whole length of the underside of his body. 

 These spots all shine like little electric lights and the 

 black form of the fish cannot be seen in the night, but 

 only his spots, which also light up his surroundings, so 

 that he can see his victims with his extraordinarily de- 

 veloped eyes adapted to see in the dark. He is covered 

 with a powerful scale, adapted to resist the pressure of 

 the water two miles deep in the ocean, where he stays in 

 the day time and wh'ere his enemies, the larger fish, can 

 not follow him. Think of the wonderful skill exhibited 

 in the construction of this individual, his powerful eyes 

 and mouth, with his powerful search light at the end of 



