THE SEA AN INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN LIFE The Sea, which is the least explored of Nature's realms, holds within it a wonderfully organized world, peculiar to itself. It abounds with a living flora and fauna, which, though obscure and strange, are equally beautiful and useful. An endeavor has been made to exhibit in one group, representations of some of the most interesting submarine forms, occurring in southern latitudes, off the coasts of America ; observing their forms, colors, and habits, so truthfully, that the plate shall prove of value to the lover of nature, and afford delight and instruction, to the intelligent mind and cultivated taste. Seventy-five species of the lower forms of vegetable and animal life are shown of their natural size, and as they appear in their native element. The grouping may be con sidered, rather as an intellectual truth, than as a literal View.— It might be termed a mental oasis of the sea.—And it should be remembered that the floor of the ocean is not every where adorned with such forms of beauty. On the contrary, it has its seeming wastes of vast extent, as well as the dry land. But even in those apparent deserts, the plummet has revealed myriads of minute Diatomacece. In looking down from a boat, through moderately clear water, I have observed a floor so desolate, that my first im pulse was to pronounce it a cheerless blank ; but on drawing the dredge, it has afforded a rich variety of objects of great interest Yet there are many places, especially in the shallower waters.; densely clothed with forests of sea-plants, which are inhabited by numerous and varied representatives of the animal kingdom. It is astonishing, how many living species may be found in a small tide-pool, where circumstances have favored their necessi ties. In the Tableau, however, no attempt has been made to exhibit congruous forms, or even those from waters of the same temperature. The objects have been taken (as will be seen by reference to the key,) from localities widely separated, and are brought together with regard to their habits ; so as to set forth, (with the aid of the text,) their peculiarities, and their positions, and relations to each other, in their respective classes, and to show the dependence of the great kingdoms upon each other.—
The work is chiefly intended for popular use ; and the hope is humbly indulged, that it may prove an aid, and an incentive to the great study of comparative zoology ; an acquaintance with which seems indispensable to a comprehensive knowledge of man kind. The description of the plate is so arranged that the reader will be conducted from the investigation of the lower forms of life, (as they appear to us,) to those more complicated in struc ture.
The picture was executed in water colors by Mr. C. Schuessele, and it is with much pleasure that I acknowledge his superior qualifications as an artist. I am also happy to speak in the highest terms of praise, of the abilities of Mr. F. Moras, who re produced the Tableau in a very superior style of chromo-litho graphy. I would likewise gratefully express my obligation for valuable suggestions, to Mr. James Hamilton, the distinguished marine and landscape painter. In offering the work to the public; I do not pretend that it has reached perfection, neither am I confident that its accuracy is faultless ; yet every effort has been made to render it a truthful and acceptable medium for impart ing knowledge. Any errors which may have crept in while pass ing through the hands of the different operators, (if conscious of them,) I have corrected by drawings in the pamphlet. The text is chiefly compiled from the writings of European authors of ce lebrity. I have been guided in making the selections, which are from many sources, by my own observations upon living objects ; and have endeavored to make the description as comprehensive as the limits of the volume would admit; hoping that many may derive pleasure and profit from the investigation of these inhabi tants of the sea, and that some may be induced to go forth and reveal new facts in the economy of nature ; expounding the won derful constructions and important uses, which are hidden in the humblest of the Creator's works.
While some of the objects pictured have been drawn from Nature, expressly for the Tableau ; yet for others which were beyond my reach, I am principally indebted to the government publications of Europe and America.