The Mighty Deep 



especially in Earth's colder regions, where they 

 abound most freely. 



The ocean-bed has been described as one huge 

 sepulchre, full of the remains of once-living 

 creatures. And this is true ; yet by itself it 

 gives a very one-sided view. Not less is the 

 ocean-bed to be described as a world of abound- 

 ing Life. 



Everywhere, throughout the whole sea, in all 

 parts, above and below and between — near the 

 surface, on the floor, in all intermediate reaches 

 — living creatures flourish in numbers past ima- 

 gination. 



Not everywhere equally. Here may be found 

 a wonderful richness of animal-life. There the 

 explorer may alight on a barren region. Yet 

 even those parts more scantily supplied need not 

 be always thus. Living creatures in vast hordes, 

 in enormous companies, drift to and fro, rise up- 

 wards and sink downwards ; and the district 

 which to-day seems almost devoid of life may to- 

 morrow be throno-ed with active beings. 



The Ocean's inhabitants have been roughly 

 divided into three Classes — Deep-Sea Life, 

 Intermediate Ocean Life, and Surface Ocean 

 Life. 



The first of these includes all animals which 

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