“This, within the last 10 years, has proved to
be a fallacy, for after 600 fathoms down to 800, the sea is teeming with
animals of a sort hitherto unknown to man: animals nearly transparent, but
which have eyes, and lungs, and hearts the same as we have, and which reveal,
under the microscope, all these organs to perfection. We see them going
through the whole of their animal functions from their cradle to their grave;
we see them seizing their prey; we see them digesting it; we see also their
eggs being formed; and we see them under the microscope, when fully developed
and the creature springs into existence. I hope some time to show any one
who cares, these things for themselves.
| Among the creatures that we have brought
up in the dredge, I purpose shewing and describing the most curious.
You see them here drawn by Mr. Wyld, the Artist and you can form some
idea of their beauty and delicate formation. This creature half Plant
and half animal possesses the power of emitting a strong green light
from its body; we obtained it off the Canary islands in 1700 fathoms
of water, and when hauled up, gave a sufficient light to enable Captain
Maclear to experiment on it. |
|
This makes the fifth creature of this species
on record. The peculiar phosphorescent light which emanates from these
and similar creatures, is the only light existing below 400 fathoms
of water, and is wholly independent of the light of the sun. This
other vase-shaped animal, half glass & half sponge is not unknown
in England, but has never before been obtained elsewhere, than off
the Phillipine Islands. From their great beauty and rarity they were,
on their first appearance, sold in England for £50 apiece, as
chimney ornaments. We obtained this off the coast of Portugal. This
gelatinopus creature, which looks like a ship's anchor, we obtained
off the Canary Islands; and these peculiar excrescences in the shape
of an anchor which protrude from the creature's body serve for exactly
that purpose, in enabling it to cloing with wonderful tenacity to
any substance, “Especially a man's fingers." What caused these
excrescences to assume this particular shape has puzzled many. Whether
the animal first saw a ship's anchor, & took a fancy to its form &
shape, or whether we first saw the animal & borrowed its nautical
appendage for our anchor, is more than I am able to decide. To-day
the dredge brought us up an immense Prawn, or Lobster, from 2000 fathoms
of water, some of you perhaps saw it, and noticed that it lacked eyes.
Now a common Lobster has a pair of very bright eyes fixed to the end
of a sort of twig, & you may have seen it occasionally sling its eyes
over its shoulder & look behind. Not so our crab, where his eyes should
have been, there was nothing; & the reason, I take it, why there was
nothing, is, that as there is no light where the gentleman lives;
no eyes he requires, as they would only be an encumbrance. It is now
getting late, & I feel that I must draw my discourse to a close, observing
that I shall be most happy to resume the subject at some future time,
if you care to hear me.”
[Loud and continued Applause.]
JM |
|
