SUBMARINE GARDENS AT NIGHT. 377 



blossoms of the coral shrubs play the humming-birds of the 

 ocean — little fish sparkling with red or blue metallic 

 lustre, or gleaming in golden green, or in the brightest 

 silvery tints. 



Softly, like spirits of the deep, the delicate milk-white or 

 bluish bells of the jelly-fishes float through this charmed 

 world. Here the gleaming violet and gold-green Isabelle, 

 and the flaming yellow, black, and vermilion-striped coquette 

 chase their prey; there the band-fish shoots snake-like 

 through the thicket, like a long silver ribbon, glittering with 

 rosy and azure hues. Then comes the fabulous cuttle-fish, 

 decked in all colors of the rainbow, but marked by no defi- 

 nite outline; appearing and disappearing, inter-crossing, 

 joining company and parting again, in most fantastic ways ; 

 and all this in the most rapid change, and amidst the most 

 wonderful play of light and shade, altered by every breath 

 Df wind and every slight curling of the surface of the ocean* 

 When day declines, and the shades of night lay hold upon 

 he deep, the fantastic garden is lighted up with new splen- 

 dor. Millions of glowing sparks, little microscopic medusas 

 and crustaceans, dance like glowworms through the gloom. 

 The sea-feather, which by daylight is vermilion-colored, 

 waves in a greenish phosphorescent light. Every corner of 

 it is lustrous. Parts which by day were dull and brown, 

 and retreated from the sight amidst the universal brilliancy 

 )f color, are now radiant in the most wonderful play of 

 green, yellow, and red light; and to complete the wonders 

 of the enchanted night, the silver disc, six feet across, of 

 the moon-fish, moves, slightly luminous, among the crowd of 

 Jittle sparkling stars. 



How like a dream of romance and fairy beauty is this 

 vivid description of submarine scenery in the tropics I 

 What exquisite loveliness exists in those still, transparent 

 waters ! far exceeding in richness and coloring the most 

 attractive objects that meet the eye on land. And wliile 



