THE GULF STREAM MARINE ANIMALS. 71 



The presence and the unchanging regularity of 

 these great hot and cold currents in the ocean is in- 

 dicated very clearly by the living inhabitants of the 

 deep. These, as certainly as the creatures of the 

 land, are under the influence of climate ; so much 

 so, that many of them never quit their native re- 

 gion in the sea. All the beautiful and delicate ma- 

 rine creatures and productions which dwell in the 

 warm waters of the south are utterly absent from 

 those shores which are laved by the cold currents 

 that descend from the north ; while, owing to the 

 influence of the Gulf Stream, we find many of those 

 lovely and singular creatures upon our compara- 

 tively northern shores. Of late years, as every one 

 knows, we have all over the land been gathering 

 these marine gems, and studying their peculiar 

 habits with deep interest in that miniature ocean 

 the aquarium. In the same parallel on the other 

 side of the Atlantic none of these little lovers of 

 heat are to be found. 



On the other hand, the whale, delighting as it 

 does to lave its huge warm-blooded body in iced 

 water, is never found to enter the Gulf Stream. 

 Thus these fish, to some extent, define its position. 

 Other fish there are which seem to resemble man 

 in their ability to change their climate at will ; but, 

 like him also, they are apt in so doing to lose their 

 health, or, at least, to get somewhat out of condition. 

 Some kinds of fish, when caught in the waters off 

 Virginia and the Carolinas, are excellent for the 



