14 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



of the sea with the undulations of a serpent, so that among sailors 

 they have gained the appellation of sea-serpents. These long living 

 trains abound in the Mediterranean, principally towards the African 

 coast and in the equatorial seas, and they are often met with on the 

 south-western shores of Ireland. They are inhabitants of the open 

 sea, and hve immersed at considerable depths ; but when the nights 

 are calm they show themselves on the surface. As they spread 



126. — Phosphorescent chain of Salpas on the surface of the sea. 



themselves abroad, and set aglow their strong phosphorescent light, 

 they resemble long ribbons of fire, unrolling their long waving lines 

 in spite of the waves, as in Fig. 126. What wonders they see who 

 go down into the great deep ! What sights are reserved for the 

 navigator who traverses the semi-tropical seas during the silence of 

 night ! 



When a chain of Salpa is drawn from the water, the zooid forms 

 separate, and they can no longer be made to adhere. The social 

 bond has been dissolved. 



Salpae are sometimes met with, isolated and solitary, whose 

 exterior conformation differs much from that which is proper to the 



