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ssss1.The Fauna of the Deep Sea, by Sydney J. Hickson, M.A., D.Sc. London: Kegan Paul and Co.

But however obscure the structure which enables the deep-sea creatures to withstand the pressure of the waters, the means by which they combat the plague of darkness is evident and astounding. It is well known that the number of phosphorescent animals, even in shallow tropical seas, is such that they can illuminate not only the waters, but the air, to a considerable distance. Sir Wyville Thompson states, that near the Cape Verde Islands he saw the sea in such a blaze of phosphorescence that, though there was no moon, “it was easy to read the smallest print, sitting at the after-port in the cabin; while the bows shed, on either side, rapidly widening wedges of radiance, so vivid as to throw the sails and riggings into distinct lights and shadows.” But, great as is the number of luminous creatures in the shallow waters, the percentage among those dredged from the deeps is greater, though their brilliant glow, when lying upon the decks of the exploring ships, is no guide to the possible intensity of their light in the pressure under which they live. Many of the deep-sea species possess light-projecting organs in numbers and perfection unrivalled by the shallow-water forms. Some of the fish have double rows of tiny lamps running the whole length of their bodies, like the rows of port-holes in an ocean steamer’s sides. These are supplemented by other sets of less clearly divided light-organs, arranged in clusters and groups of fifty or a hundred. Other deep-sea fishes have bull’s-eye lanterns set beneath their eyes, projecting their light “full-a-head.” Sections cut through these extraordinary organs show that above the phosphorus-burning vessel lies first a layer of “reflectors,” and lastly, a lens for concentrating the beams. Perhaps the strangest development of this power of illumination is in an angler-fish, found at a depth of 14,700 feet. Like the other “anglers,” it has a huge mouth armed with long uneven teeth, and a pendent “fishing-rod” tentacle which attracts other fish like a bait. In the shallow-water “anglers” this tentacle resembles something edible by fish. In the deep-water species it is fitted with an organ which is supposed to be a phosphorus lamp, and to play the part of a “Will-o’-the-Wisp” in attracting little fishes to the angler’s jaws.