92 LIVING LIGHTS. 



interesting, indeed remarkable, example of this is seen in 

 the fish Bathypterus longipes, Giinther found at a depth vary- 

 ing from one-half to three-quarters of a mile from the surface 

 in the, Atlantic. The eyes are extremely small, apparently 

 useless; but the blind man's cane is here, as the pectoral 

 fins are modified to serve as feelers, two rays almost as long 

 as the entire fish extending from the back of the head. As 

 the fish swims freely, the fins are trailed behind; but, does it 

 approach a prospective victim, the articulation of these won- 

 derful feelers enables them to be thrown forward as a cane 

 in advance of the fish. They are divided at the tip, and 

 form a delicate sense-organ with which to explore the depths 

 of this abyssal world. Upon the ventral fins, there are two 

 similar rays, that serve a like purpose. 



Many fishes having remarkable feelers have quite recently 

 been discovered, and among them JEustomias obscurus (Plate 

 XIX.), a fish found at a de'pth of twenty-seven hundred 

 meters, which has a long tentacle dependent from the lower 

 jaw. 



When we penetrate beyond a certain depth, we find blind 

 fishes as well as those possessing eyes ; and all the forms of 

 the greater depths are adapted to their life under the con- 

 sequent enormous pressure in a remarkable manner.- The 

 bones are friable and cavernous, and loosely connected. 

 Many are covei'ed with a thick mucus, while many more 

 have curious plates, that are so many torches or lanterns to 

 emit light for their possessors. As some of the fishes have 

 eyes and no phosphorescent organs, while others are lumin- 

 ous and perhaps blind, and knowing that all are carnivorous, 

 we may well imagine that a fierce struggle for existence is 

 carried on in this distant world of the sea. The lamps of 



