LIVING LIGHTS. 



much controversy. The opinions' of Ussow, Leydig, and 

 others will be found in their papers referred to in the bibli- 

 ography ; and, as the question is thoroughly a technical one, 

 its further discussion is omitted. As early as 1865 Pro- . 

 fessor Leuckart suggested that the curious plates (Plate X., 

 Fig. 4) were organs of sight, or accessory eyes. In 1879 

 Dr. M. Ussow, of the University of St. Petersburg, gave the 

 world an account of his researches upon the plates of the 

 genera Astronesthes, Stomias (Plate XX.), OhauUodus (Plate 

 XXI., Fig. 4), Scopelus (Plate X., Fig. 1), MauroUcus, Gonos- 

 toma, and Argyopelecus, small fishes, most of which were 

 found in the Mediterranean. This was followed by similar 

 investigations by Dr. Leydig of Bonn, and Dr. Giinther. 



A well-known phosphorescent fish is seen in Scopelus, 

 which bears upon its sides and various parts of the body 

 numbers of spots (Plate X., Fig. 1), which, if all luminous, 

 mark it as one of the most brilliant of the light-givers. The 

 appearance of these organs in reflected light is shown in 

 Plate X., Fig. 2. 



The snake-like Stomiasboa (Plate XX.), from a depth 

 •of twenty-seven hundred feet, is perhaps the most hideous of 

 the light-givers ; its large mouth and ferocious teeth giving 

 it a bull-dog aspect, which in a large fish would make a 

 veritable dragon. But Stomias is not over twelve or fifteen 

 inches in length, though quite large enough to terrify the 

 smaller fry. The specimen figured was taken in the Gulf 

 of Gascony by the naturalists of the " Talisman," from its 

 home, a mile and a quarter beneath the surface. The sides 

 of the body are provided with a double row of luminous 

 disks, which, according to M. Filhol, " cause the fish to be 

 surrounded "by a brilliant luminous aureola." 



