IS THE DEEP SEA DARK ? 177 



lead to the inference that the latter are in reality 

 given off from the former in some way. The larger 

 cell-bodies, and the Coccoliths on them, are imbedded 

 in a gelatinous envelope. The presence of these 

 organisms in largest quantity in those deposits in 

 which the Globigerince occur alive in the greatest 

 profusion and utmost state of purity, would also seem 

 indicative of their being a larval condition of the 

 latter/' 



As the supposition that the pressure of so great a 

 body of water would preclude the possibility of animal 

 functions being carried on at the bottom of the ocean, 

 is thus found to be a mistake ; so it is by no means 

 improbable, that our received theories of absolute 

 darkness at that depth may be equally mythical. 

 Edward Forbes formed an ingenious hypothesis touch- 

 ing the distribution of marine animals in zones of 

 depth, from facts which seemed to prove that positive 

 colour diminished in the shells of the Mollusca, in the 

 ratio of their habitual distance from the surface, all 

 colour ceasing at from fifty to one hundred fathoms. 

 It was hence assumed that light was entirely lost by 

 absorption, in passing through such a volume of sea- 

 water. Subsequent researches, however, by Sars, and 

 other Norwegian naturalists, proved the existence of 

 certain Anemones and corals at a depth of two hun- 

 dred fathoms ; and these are by no means white, as 

 this hypothesis required, but adorned with the most 

 vivid hues. Light, then, must exist, and have a strong 



M 



