’
194
.
THE SEAS'
crustaceans and squids.
They may occur on almost any
part of the-animal;- and are—often arranged
along the
sides of the body (see Plate 72) though they are frequently
found in the head region, as in the case of the deep—sea
anglers with their waving lamps for the attraction, possibly,
,
of prey.
One very remarkable sh has noeyes but instead
a
large light organ under the frontal bones within the
Skull.
—
"
The reason for the production of light in these different
marine animals is in most cases a complete mystery.
We
can only hazard a guess as to what part it plays in the life
of the animal.
Thus it is difcult to see what use lumines'
cehce can be to.‘ bacteria, ,Noctiluca, jellysh, or the Sea
Pens,. it is probably merely a by-product of the normal
activities of these creatures.
The case
the concealed
animals, such as
Piddock
or
the Tube—worm, Chœ—
topterus,
equal difculties though it may
be that the light serves to attract to their burrows the
animals on which they feed.
In other cases the light may
help members of the same species to recognize one another
or
assist, the females in attracting the males during the
mating season.
It appears that luminous secretion may
_
be discharged into the water to distract a pursuing enemy,
while in other cases the sudden ashing of light from the.
more
complicated light - organs may perhaps protect the
animals by giving warning that it is harmful or- distaste—
ful
food, in much the same way as the brilliant colours
animals aresaid to .afford- warning of
'
the uhpleaSantness of their owners. Of course it is possible
'
'
that there. is truth“ in the old _beliêf that the light
'
of the deep—sea animals which look so much like little
'
lanterns are actually. used
the same purp05e and»
_
them—in their search for food, But we can be certain, of
‘
nothing and the production of animal light is, and seems
'
194
.
THE SEAS'
crustaceans and squids.
They may occur on almost any
part of the-animal;- and are—often arranged
along the
sides of the body (see Plate 72) though they are frequently
found in the head region, as in the case of the deep—sea
anglers with their waving lamps for the attraction, possibly,
,
of prey.
One very remarkable sh has noeyes but instead
a
large light organ under the frontal bones within the
Skull.
—
"
The reason for the production of light in these different
marine animals is in most cases a complete mystery.
We
can only hazard a guess as to what part it plays in the life
of the animal.
Thus it is difcult to see what use lumines'
cehce can be to.‘ bacteria, ,Noctiluca, jellysh, or the Sea
Pens,. it is probably merely a by-product of the normal
activities of these creatures.
The case
the concealed
animals, such as
Piddock
or
the Tube—worm, Chœ—
topterus,
equal difculties though it may
be that the light serves to attract to their burrows the
animals on which they feed.
In other cases the light may
help members of the same species to recognize one another
or
assist, the females in attracting the males during the
mating season.
It appears that luminous secretion may
_
be discharged into the water to distract a pursuing enemy,
while in other cases the sudden ashing of light from the.
more
complicated light - organs may perhaps protect the
animals by giving warning that it is harmful or- distaste—
ful
food, in much the same way as the brilliant colours
animals aresaid to .afford- warning of
'
the uhpleaSantness of their owners. Of course it is possible
'
'
that there. is truth“ in the old _beliêf that the light
'
of the deep—sea animals which look so much like little
'
lanterns are actually. used
the same purp05e and»
_
them—in their search for food, But we can be certain, of
‘
nothing and the production of animal light is, and seems
'