THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE 



I 



once but like a Christmas tree when candle after 

 candle is lighted. One or two of the coral ani- 

 mals in the tree like colony illuminate themselves 

 first. Then a signal runs along the general nerve 

 which unites the individual polyps, and wher- 

 ever the signal is received a little light flames up 

 anew as if a lighter went along a perforated 

 gas-pipe. Meanwhile a pair of snake-like stars 

 have begun to glow on the bottom. Around 

 their red bodies it appears like a wild Arabesque, 

 like a struggling Gorgon head. They lie in on 

 emerald green bed of fire, every detail of their 

 Arabesque revealed. One of these snake-like 

 worms sends out a cobalt blue flame. 



In this general light there arise everyv/here 

 forms not yet illuminated of fabulously grotes- 

 que shape. A pair of giant feelers grope over 

 a field of light four feet and a half wide, pro- 

 duced by a mass of shining sea-stars; finally 

 follows as their bearer a very small shrimp. 

 Horrible, spider like animals with enormous 

 stilt-like legs run swiftly by. A hideous giant 

 louse, ten inches long wallows through the slimy 

 ooze. Far away in the grey twilight beautiful 

 ghostly but problematic forms arise — ^little 

 palms, with many leaved crowns on high stalks. 

 With astonishment the eye of the geologist is 

 greeted with the marvelous sea-lily (crinoid) cf 

 the primitive world, — sl firmly rooted animal 

 with a colored palm cro^vn of tentacles about 

 28 



I 



