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the conquerors of the ocean surge。 All the world； since the publication
of Darwin's delightful 〃Voyage of the Beagle；〃' and of Williams'
〃Missionary Enterprises；〃 knows； or ought to know； enough about them：
for those who do not； there are a few pages in the beginning of Dr。
Landsborough's 〃British Zoophytes；〃 well worth perusal。
There are a few other true cellepore corals round the coast。 The
largest of all； Cervicornis； may be dredged a few miles outside on the
Exmouth bank； with a few more Tubulipores： but all tiny things； the
lingering and； as it were； expiring remnants of that great coral…world
which； through the abysmal depths of past ages； formed here in Britain
our limestone hills； storing up for generations yet unborn the materials
of agriculture and architecture。 Inexpressibly interesting； even solemn；
to those who will think； is the sight of those puny parasites which； as it
were； connect the ages and the aeons： yet not so solemn and full of
meaning as that tiny relic of an older world； the little pear… shaped
Turbinolia （cousin of the Madrepores and Sea…anemones）； found fossil
in the Suffolk Crag； and yet still lingering here and there alive in the
deep water of Scilly and the west coast of Ireland； possessor of a
pedigree which dates； perhaps； from ages before the day in which it was
said； 〃Let us make man in our image； after our likeness。〃 To think that
the whole human race； its joys and its sorrows； its virtues and its sins； its
aspirations and its failures； has been rushing out of eternity and into
eternity again； as Arjoon in the Bhagavad Gita beheld the race of men
issuing from Kreeshna's flaming mouth； and swallowed up in it again；
〃as the crowds of insects swarm into the flame； as the homeless streams
leap down into the ocean bed；〃 in an everlasting heart…pulse whose blood
is living souls … and all that while； and ages before that mystery began；
that humble coral； unnoticed on the dark sea…floor； has been 〃continuing
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as it was at the beginning；〃 and fulfilling 〃the law which cannot be
broken；〃 while races and dynasties and generations have been
〃Playing such fantastic tricks before high heaven； As make the angels
weep。〃
Yes； it is this vision of the awful permanence and perfection of the
natural world； beside the wild flux and confusion； the mad struggles； the
despairing cries of the world of spirits which man has defiled by sin；
which would at moments crush the naturalist's heart； and make his brain
swim with terror； were it not that he can see by faith； through all the
abysses and the ages； not merely
〃 Hands； From out the darkness； shaping man；〃
but above them a living loving countenance； human and yet Divine；
and can hear a voice which said at first； 〃Let us make man in our
image；〃 and hath said since then； and says for ever and for ever； 〃Lo； I
am with you alway； even to the end of the world。〃
But now； friend； who listenest； perhaps instructed； and at least
amused … if； as Professor Harvey well says； the simpler animals represent；
as in a glass； the scattered organs of the higher races； which of your
organs is represented by that 〃sca'd man's head；〃 which the Devon
children more gracefully； yet with less adherence to plain likeness； call
〃mermaid's head；〃 （12） which we picked up just now on Paignton Sands？
Or which； again； by its more beautiful little congener； （13） five or six of
which are adhering tightly to the slab before us； a ball covered with
delicate spines of lilac and green； and stuck over （cunning fellows！） with
stripes of dead sea…weed to serve as improvised parasols？ One cannot
say that in him we have the first type of the human skull： for the
resemblance； quaint as it is； is only sensuous and accidental； （in the
logical use of that term；） and not homological； I。E。 a lower manifestation
of the same idea。 Yet how is one tempted to say； that this was Nature's
first and lowest attempt at that use of hollow globes of mineral for
protecting soft fleshy parts； which she afterwards developed to such
perfection in the skulls of vertebrate animals！ But even that conceit；
pretty as it sounds； will not hold good； for though Radiates similar to
these were among the earliest tenants of the abyss； yet as early as their
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time； perhaps even before them； had been conceived and actualized； in
the sharks； and in Mr。 Hugh Miller's pets the old red sandstone fishes；
that very true vertebrate skull and brain； of which this is a mere mockery。
（14） Here the whole animal； with his extraordinary feeding mill； （for
neither teeth nor jaws is a fit word for it；） is enclosed within an ever…
growing limestone castle； to the architecture of which the Eddystone and
the Crystal Palace are bungling heaps； without arms or legs； eyes or ears；
and yet capable； in spite of his perpetual imprisonment； of walking；
feeding； and breeding； doubt it not； merrily enough。 But this result has
been attained at the expense of a complication of structure； which has
baffled all human analysis and research into final causes。 As much
concerning this most miraculous of families as is needful to be known；
and ten times more than you are likely to understand； may be read in
Harvey's 〃Sea…Side Book；〃 pp。 142… 148； … pages from which you will
probably arise with a sense of the infinity and complexity of Nature；
even in what we are pleased to call her 〃lower〃 forms； and the simplest
and； as it were； easiest forms of life。 Conceive a Crystal Palace； （for
mere difference in size； as both the naturalist and the metaphysician
know； has nothing to do with the wonder；） whereof each separate joist；
girder； and pane grows continually without altering the shape of the
whole； and you have conceived only one of the miracles embodied in
that little sea…egg； which the Creator has； as it were； to justify to man His
own immutability； furnished with a shell capable of enduring fossil for
countless ages； that we may confess Him to have been as great when
first His Spirit brooded on the deep； as He is now and will be through all
worlds to come。
But we must make haste； for the tide is rising fast； and our stone will
be restored to its eleven hours' bath； long before we have talked over
half the wonders which it holds。 Look though； ere you retreat； at one or
two more。
What is that little brown thing whom you have just taken off the rock
to which it adhered so stoutly by his sucking…foot？ A limpet？ Not at
all： he is of quite a different family and structure； but； on the whole； a
limpet…like shell would suit him well enough； so he had one given him：
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nevertheless； owing to certain anatomical