496 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



a very small portion of the entire sum of these 

 beings existing at one time in these seas. 

 Ehrenberg, after examination of various speci- 

 mens of sea-water sent to him by Sir J. C. Eoss, 

 states that in high " southern as well as in high 

 northern latitudes, and at great ocean depths, 

 the minute forms of organic life are intensely 

 and extensively developed." Near Franklin 

 Island a great quantity of ice of a brown colour 

 was observed. The colour was entirely due to 

 innumerable hosts of these minute organized 

 beings. Samples of water have been taken tip 

 in various latitudes, and on accurate micro- 

 scopic investigation, innumerable extremely 

 minute organisms have been detected, floating 

 generally in a fragmentary state. Thus, even 

 in the perpetual night of the depths of the 

 ocean, animal life abundantly exists, though of 

 a low type. 



" On the coast of Chili," remarks Mr. Darwin, 

 " a few leagues north of Concepcion, the Beagle 

 one day passed through great bands of muddy 

 water, exactly like that of a swollen river ; and 

 again, a degree north of Valparaiso, when fifty 

 miles from land, the same appearance was still 

 more extensive. Some of the water placed in 

 a glass was of pale reddish tint ; and, examined 

 under a microscope, was seen to swarm with 

 minute animalcules darting about and often 



