176 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



" us, is a notable example ; possessing in its silvery 

 "body, yellow head, and crimson tail, an undoubted 

 " claim to beauty of decoration ; nor are the gleaming 

 " hues that flash from the pearly sides of that troop of 

 " coryphenes, as they play in the changing light, less 

 "charming. Now they have caught sight of yonder 

 "shoal of timid little flying-fishes which are making 

 " their way to surface, to seek a momentary refuge in 

 " another element, — and away they dart, pursuing and 

 "pursued. And here comes, stealing by, the fellest 

 "tyrant of the deep, the grim shark, attended by his 

 " fidus Achates, the little pilot-fish, in a livery of brown 

 "and purple. The very countenance of this grisly 

 "monster, the expression of settled malice in his eye, 

 " inspires an involuntary horror, scarcely increased by 

 " a glimpse of the serried lancet-like teeth which arm 

 " those fatal jaws. 



" It is night. Yet darkness has not fallen upon the 

 " scene, for the whole mass of the sea is become imbued 

 " with light. A milky whiteness pervades every part, 

 " slightly varying in intensity, arising from inconceivably 

 " numerous animalcules, so small as to be separately 

 " undistinguishable, but in their aggregation illuminating 

 " the boundless deep. Among them are numerous 

 "swimming creatures, of perceptible size and greater 

 " luminousness, which glitter like little brilliant sparks ; 

 " and when a fish swims along, its path becomes a bed 

 " of living light, and we may trace it many fathoms by 

 " its luminous wake. Some of the larger creatures also 

 " are vividly illuminated ; the medusae, which by day 

 " appear like circular masses of transparent jelly, now 

 "assume the appearance of cannon-balls heated to 



