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pardoned； if he shrinks from them in disgust。 That； at least； must be a
consequence of our own wrong state； for everything is beautiful and
perfect in its place。 It may be answered； 〃Yes； in its place； but its place
is not yours。 You had no business to look at it； and must pay the
penalty for intermeddling。〃 I doubt that answer； for surely； if man have
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liberty to do anything； he has liberty to search out freely his heavenly
Father's works； and yet every one seems to have his antipathic animal；
and I know one bred from his childhood to zoology by land and sea； and
bold in asserting； and honest in feeling； that all without exception is
beautiful； who yet cannot； after handling and petting and admiring all
day long every uncouth and venomous beast； avoid a paroxysm of horror
at the sight of the common house…spider。 At all events； whether we
were intruding or not； in turning this stone； we must pay a fine for
having done so； for there lies an animal as foul and monstrous to the eye
as 〃hydra； gorgon； or chimaera dire；〃 and yet so wondrously fitted to
its work； that we must needs endure for our own instruction to handle
and to look at it。 Its name； if you wish for it； is Nemertes； probably N。
Borlasii； （18） a worm of very 〃low〃 organization； though well fitted
enough for its own work。 You see it？ That black； shiny； knotted lump
among the gravel； small enough to be taken up in a dessert spoon。
Look now； as it is raised and its coils drawn out。 Three feet … six … nine；
at least： with a capability of seemingly endless expansion； a slimy tape
of living caoutchouc； some eighth of an inch in diameter； a dark
chocolate… black； with paler longitudinal lines。 Is it alive？ It hangs；
helpless and motionless； a mere velvet string across the hand。 Ask the
neighbouring Annelids and the fry of the rock fishes； or put it into a vase
at home； and see。 It lies motionless； trailing itself among the gravel；
you cannot tell where it begins or ends； it may be a dead strip of sea…
weed； Himanthalia lorea； perhaps； or Chorda filum； or even a tarred
string。 So thinks the little fish who plays over and over it； till he
touches at last what is too surely a head。 In an instant a bell…shaped
sucker mouth has fastened to his side。 In another instant； from one lip；
a concave double proboscis； just like a tapir's （another instance of the
repetition of forms）； has clasped him like a finger； and now begins the
struggle： but in vain。 He is being 〃played〃 with such a fishing… line as
the skill of a Wilson or a Stoddart never could invent； a living line； with
elasticity beyond that of the most delicate fly… rod； which follows every
lunge； shortening and lengthening； slipping and twining round every
piece of gravel and stem of sea… weed； with a tiring drag such as no
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Highland wrist or step could ever bring to bear on salmon or on trout。
The victim is tired now； and slowly； and yet dexterously； his blind
assailant is feeling and shifting along his side； till he reaches one end of
him； and then the black lips expand； and slowly and surely the curved
finger begins packing him end…foremost down into the gullet； where he
sinks； inch by inch； till the swelling which marks his place is lost among
the coils； and he is probably macerated to a pulp long before he has
reached the opposite extremity of his cave of doom。 Once safe down；
the black murderer slowly contracts again into a knotted heap； and lies；
like a boa with a stag inside him； motionless and blest。 （19）
There； we must come away now； for the tide is over our ankles； but
touch； before you go； one of those little red mouths which peep out of
the stone。 A tiny jet of water shoots up almost into your face。
The bivalve （20） who has burrowed into the limestone knot （the
softest part of the stone to his jaws； though the hardest to your chisel） is
scandalized at having the soft mouths of his siphons so rudely touched；
and taking your finger for some bothering Annelid； who wants to nibble
him； is defending himself； shooting you； as naturalists do humming…
birds； with water。 Let him rest in peace； it will cost you ten minutes'
hard work； and much dirt； to extract him； but if you are fond of shells；
secure one or two of those beautiful pink and straw…coloured scallops
（Hinnites pusio； Plate X。 fig。 1）； who have gradually incorporated the
layers of their lower valve with the roughnesses of the stone； destroying
thereby the beautiful form which belongs to their race； but not their
delicate colour。 There are a few more bivalves too； adhering to the
stone； and those rare ones； and two or three delicate Mangeliae and
Nassae （21） are trailing their graceful spires up and down in search of
food。 That little bright red and yellow pea； too； touch it … the brilliant
coloured cloak is withdrawn； and； instead； you have a beautiful ribbed
pink cowry； （22） our only European representative of that grand tropical
family。 Cast one wondering glance； too； at the forest of zoophytes and
corals； Lepraliae and Flustrae； and those quaint blue stars； set in brown
jelly； which are no zoophytes； but respectable molluscs； each with his
well… formed mouth and intestines； （23） but combined in a peculiar form
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of Communism； of which all one can say is； that one hopes they like it；
and that； at all events； they agree better than the heroes and heroines of
Mr。 Hawthorne's 〃Blithedale Romance。〃
Now away； and as a specimen of the fertility of the water…world；
look at this rough list of species； （24） the greater part of which are on
this very stone； and all of which you might obtain in an hour； would the
rude tide wait for zoologists： and remember that the number of
individuals of each species of polype must be counted by tens of
thousands； and also； that； by searching the forest of sea…weeds which
covers the upper surface； we should probably obtain some twenty minute
species more。
A goodly catalogue this； surely； of the inhabitants of three or four
large stones； and yet how small a specimen of the multitudinous nations
of the sea！
From the bare rocks above high…water mark； down to abysses deeper
than ever plummet sounded； is life； everywhere life； fauna after fauna；
and flora after flora； arranged in zones； according to the amount of light
and warmth which each species requires； and to the amount of pressure
which they are able to endure。 The crevices of the highest rocks； only
sprinkled with salt spray in spring…tides and high gales； have their
peculiar little univalves； their crisp lichen…like sea…weed； in myriads；
lower down； the region of the Fuci （bladder…weeds） has its own tribes of
periwinkles and limpets； below again； about the neap…tide mark； the
region of the corallines and Algae furnishes food for