Marvels of the Universe 



113 



their power of emitting luminosit}- 

 is not bj" an}" means constant in its 

 effects, being acted upon b}' some 

 unknown quality outside of them- 

 selves and apparently independent 

 of their own efforts. How far this 

 affects the light-giving fish of the 

 depths we have no means of knowing 

 or of learning : apparently the con- 

 ditions under which life is lived in 

 the abysmal depths being a sealed 

 book to us. But it is only reason- 

 able to suppose that the same in- 

 fluences, whatever thej" are, which 

 cause the glow of the Noctiluca, that 

 microscopic spot of jell}' like an 

 atomic brain, to wsix and wane, will 

 have a similar effect upon the highh"- 

 developed fishes of the profound 

 depths which carr}' about with them 

 so complete a s}"stem, apparently, of 

 ordered illumination. If not in 

 degree, certainly we should say in 

 kind, judging from what we ma}- 

 observ-e of these fluctuations upon 

 the surface. 



Of all these fluctuations, that 

 which is known to seamen by the 

 feeble name of a " milk sea " is 

 certainly the most amazing. It is 

 indeed a stupendous manifestation 

 of that unknown power which affects 

 the lighting of the deeps. Thrice 

 dimng my seafaring I have witnessed 

 it, but the most striking appearance 

 of the three was in the Bay of Cavite 

 in the PhiUppine Islands. So intense 

 was the glow of lambent light from 

 the sea that the brilliancy of the 

 scintillating stars was entirely paled, 

 and they appeared like points of 

 dead white against an absolutely 

 black sky. There was not a cloud 

 above the horizon, and the blackness 

 was entirely due to the resplendent 

 light from the sea. It washed against 

 the vessel in wavelets of flame, 

 amidst which the tracks of fish were 

 shown by more vivid bands of light. 



Photo hv] 



THE NlGHl-LIGHl 



[ II'. Ilaijslimc. 

 OF THE SEA ENLARGED. 



Everybody knov 



[W. Bagshmc. 

 NIGHT-LIGHTS OF THE SEA. 



'S Kow brightly'the sea shines at night, occasionally. The 

 luminosity is caused by these little sphtr^s, which are one-twenty-fif th of an 

 inch across. 



8 



