Marvels of the Universe 



an Australian species these 

 ribbons form an X-like 

 pattern, whence the trivial 

 name of X-Ray applied 

 to this spider. In this 

 instance the ribbons are 

 placed so as to correspond 

 exactly with the position 

 of the legs in the spider's 

 habitual attitude of rest 

 in the middle of her snare, 

 two legs being extended 

 along each ribbon ; and 

 since the spider always 

 hangs on the side of the 

 web turned towards the 

 bush, it results that the 

 ribbons conceal the greater 

 part of her limbs from any 

 insect that approaches the 

 web. Thus, concealment 

 of the occupant of the 

 snare both from flies it is 

 designed to catch and from 

 marauding wasps, which 

 prey largely upon spiders, 

 seems to be one of the 

 chief purposes of these rib- 

 bons. Probably, also, they 

 serve to strengthen the 

 middle of the web, enab- 

 Ung it the better to support 

 the weight of the spider. 



Phnlo 1,1,1 



X-RAY SPIDER. 



This spider builds a web mucb lilte that of the 

 strengthens the middle — v/here she sits — with four zigza 

 limbs to each of these completes the X. 



common 

 ribbons, 



arden 

 and e 



spider, but 

 (tending her 



SELF-LUMINANT FISHES OF THE DEEP 



BY FRANK T. BULLEN, F.R.G.S. 



One of the many vexed questions concerning life in the abysmal ocean depths which science has 

 set at rest, by the ardent work of her votaries at sea during the last thirty years, is that of the supp)}' 

 of light in those vast profundities. It was well known that the depth to which, under the 

 most favourable circumstances — say, in mid-sea at tropical high noon — the sun's light could 

 penetrate was under a hundred fathoms, a mere surface layer where depths run into four or five 

 thousand fathoms. It was known, too, that in varying degrees of intensity, the conditions of which 

 were not understood, the surface of the sea is luminous, so much so, in fact, that sometimes on 

 a moonless night its effulgence pales the stars, makes the heavens appear coal black, and causes 

 every wave that breaks to appear as a shower of living light. 



In the midst of this splendour the track of every fish, however small, may be seen very much 

 larger than the size of the creature, whose passage is its cause, would warrant ; until the passing of 



