CHAPTER VIII. 



THE EYELESS FISHES OP THE CAVE. 



As an interlude to the descriptive narrative 

 of the scenery observed in our journey through 

 the Cave, we will stop here to note the existence 

 of animal life, which is remarkable for maintain- 

 ing vitality under circumstances so unfavorable 

 for normal development. There are to be found 

 in the Cave eyeless fish, eyeless crawfish, lizards, 

 frogs, crickets, rats, bats, etc., — all, except the 

 two first named, being possessed of more or less 

 development of the visual organs. 



In Echo River we find the eyeless fish and 

 the eyeless crawfish. These specimens of the 

 fish tribe have been looked upon by all classes 

 of persons, ever since the first published notice 

 of their existence, as remarkable curiosities. 

 They illustrate, however, a fixed rule in the 

 great laws of Nature. The presiding Deity 

 never supplies any living creature with super- 

 fluous organs ; and if organs already exist which 

 future circumstances render useless, they arc 

 (84) 



