small organisms or minute particles of organic matter which fall from the surface, &c."[1] Now how far does assimilative colouration appear to obtain in these dreary depths? Sir John Murray speaks of the "red and brown tints of the majority of deep-sea organisms."[2] Mr. Hickson's statement that "the deep-sea fish are usually devoid of any pronounced spots, stripes, or other markings is now well recognized," and it seems to be "a very general rule among fishes that as they migrate into deeper water the spots and stripes so conspicuous among many forms living on the surface and in shallow water disappear, and the colouration of the body becomes more evenly distributed and uniform." "Among the Crustacea various shades of red are the prevailing colours."
"The colouring of the deep-sea jelly-fishes is said to be usually deep violet or yellowish red." "Moseley records most minutely the colour of some of the deep-sea anemones and corals, and calls attention to the very general presence of madder-brown in the soft parts." "The pelagic Schizopoda are usually quite pale and transparent; the deep-sea forms, on the other hand, are frequently, if not invariably, of a bright red colour." Mr. Hickson concludes that the fauna of the deep sea, taken as a whole, is not characterized by the predominance of any one colour, but "the shades of red occur rather more frequently than they do in the fauna of any other zone or region."[3] Mr. Beddard, arguing from the many cases of degenerate eyes among deep-sea animals, considers it reasonable to suppose that vision is impossible.
"The inevitable conclusion, therefore, from these facts appears to be that the brilliant and varied colourations of deep-sea animals is totally devoid of meaning; they cannot be of advan-
- ↑ 'Compte-Rendu,' Third Inter. Congr. Zool. Leyden, p. 107. "The scientific men engaged in the 'Challenger' Expedition came at last to the conclusion that the red clay was mainly produced by the decomposition of inorganic material, such as the pumice discharged into the air during volcanic eruptions, which after long floating about on the surface of the sea must become waterlogged, and sink together with the various kinds of dust already mentioned. The evidence which they cite indicates that this red clay accumulates very slowly, and that it owes much to the above materials; but that some part of it may be, directly or indirectly, due to chemical action does not seem improbable" (T. G. Bonney, 'Story of our Planet,' p. 209).
- ↑ 'Compte-Rendu,' Third Inter. Congr. Zool. Leyden, p. 107.
- ↑ 'The Fauna of the Deep Sea,' pp. 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 135.
