194 From Matter to Man. 



is more or less illuminated, and light-producing organs 

 are common to all the Bassalian fauna. 



The primitive form of the animal lamp, as seen in 

 these fishes, is a simple gland secreting mucus largely 

 charged with phosphorus ; but in the highly specialised 

 fishes the light is undoubtedly electric. Thus, the 

 LinopJiryiie Lucifer carries a light on its forehead, 

 like the miner's hat-lamp ; while he trails a luminous 

 bulb beneath as a bait. The Echiostoma Barbatum 

 also trails an illuminated tassel, and has a row of jets 

 along its sides, like the gleaming port-holes of an 

 ocean steamer at night. The Cliauliodus has a hall- 

 lamp hanging in its huge mouth ; while others have a 

 luminous spot on the side of their heads, which, like 

 a passing ship in the dark, shows either a red or green 

 light. 



It is rather marvellous to reflect that while men are 

 only now perfecting means of lighting up their towns 

 and houses with electricity, nature, through a lower 

 set of organisms, has lit up the deep seas for probably 

 untold ages. Man conceitedly thinks he is without a 

 rival in the universe in intelligence, and truly his 

 electric discoveries are wonderful, considering his 

 opportunities, but he has not' yet rivalled the fish in 

 developing a reading lamp on his forehead to be 

 switched on or off at pleasure. 



With these proofs before us of numerous animals 

 existing as living electric machines, and considering 

 that all animals are more or less constructed in a 

 similar way, with similar material and mechanisms, 



