DEEP SEA FAUNA. 



415 



into profound abysses surpassing in depth the height of 

 the loftiest mountain ranges on the face of the eartii. 

 Soundings taken in the north west of the Pacific Ocean, 

 near the Mariana Islands, sliovved a deptli of 31,790 feet, 

 this being the greatest depth ever reached in tlie ocean 

 up to the present. This exceeds the height of Mt. 

 Everest, the most loft_\' peak of the Himalayas, by about 

 2,900 feet. The deepest part of the Mediterranean 

 (14,520 feet) is reached to the south of the Peloponnesus; 

 the configuration of its bed is very varied, and ex- 

 hibits many deep troughs and hollow 

 sinking of the ground. — As far 

 have been able to reach with our 

 animal life has always been found, 

 ures live in regions where no rav 

 penetrates. But darkness does not 

 supreme in those depths, for they 

 ally illuminated by the creatures 

 Many primitive forms, 

 especiall)' numerous worms, 

 crustaceans, cephalopods 

 and fish, phosphoresce 

 with various coloured 

 lights ; accordingly these 

 creatures of the deep are 

 not blind, but are 

 possessed of eyes 

 often of strikin, 

 size. — The 

 diversit)' of ' the Algae continualh 



