Thesemi—pellucidorange"mantle"fillstheintermediatespace。
　　Throughthatmantle，attheendfromwhichthefootcurves，thesiphonsprotrude;twothickshorttubesjoinedsidebyside，theirlipsfringedwithpearlycirri，orfringes;andverybeautifultheyare。Thelargerisalwaysopen，takinginthewater，whichisatoncetheanimal’sfoodandair，andwhich，flowingoverthedelicateinnersurfaceofthemantle，atonceoxygenatesitsblood，andfillsitsstomachwithminuteparticlesofdecayedorganizedmatter。Thesmallerisshut。Waitaminute，anditwillopensuddenlyanddischargeajetofclearwater，whichhasbeenrobbed，Isuppose，ofitsoxygenanditsorganicmatter。But，Isuppose，youreyeswillberatherattractedbythatsamescarletandorangefoot，whichisbeingdrawninandthrustouttoalengthofnearlyfourinches，strikingwithitspointagainstanyopposingobject，andsendingthewholeshellbackwardswithajerk。Thepoint，yousee，issharpandtongue—like;onlyflattened，nothorizontally，likeatongue，butperpendicularly，soastoform，asitwasintended，aperfectsand—plough，bywhichtheanimalcanmoveatwill，eitheraboveorbelowthesurfaceofthesand。（2）
　　Butforcolourandshape，towhatshallwecompareit？Topolishedcornelian，saysMr。Gosse。Isay，tooneofthegreatredcapsicumswhichhangdryingineveryCovent—gardenseedsman’swindow。Yetiseithersimilebetterthantheguessofacertainlady，who，enteringaroomwhereinacoupleofCardiumtuberculatumwerewaltzingaboutaplate，exclaimed，"Ohdear！Ialwaysheardthatmyprettyredcoralcameoutofafish，andhereitisallalive！"
　　"C。tuberculatum，"saysMr。Gosse（whodescribeditfromspecimenswhichIsenthimin1854），"isfarthefinestspecies。Thevalvesaremoregloboseandofawarmercolour;thosethatIhaveseenareevenmorespinous。"SuchmayhavebeenthecaseinthoseIsent：
　　butithasoccurredtomenowandthentodredgespecimensofC。
　　aculeatum，whichhadescapedthatrollingonthesandfatalinoldagetoitsdelicatespines，andwhichequalledincolour，size，andperfectnessthenobleonefiguredinpoordearoldDr。Turton’s"BritishBivalves。"Besides，aculeatumisafarthinnerandmoredelicateshell。Andathirdspecies，C。echinatum，withcurvesmoregracefulandcontinuous，istobefoundnowandthenwiththetwoformer。Init，eachpoint，insteadofdegeneratingintoaknot，asintuberculatum，ordevelopingfromdelicateflatbriar—
　　pricklesintolongstraightthorns，asinaculeatum，isclose—settoitsfellow，andcurvedatthepointtransverselytotheshell，thewholebeingthushorridwithhundredsofstrongtenterhooks，makinghiscastleimpregnabletotheravenersofthedeep。Forwecanhardlydoubtthatthesepricklesaremeantasweaponsofdefence，withoutwhichsosavouryamorselasthemolluscwithin（cookedandeatenlargelyonsomepartsofoursouthcoast）wouldbeastaplearticleoffoodforsea—beastsofprey。Anditisnoteworthy，first，thatthedefensivethornswhicharepermanentonthetwothinnerspecies，aculeatumandechinatum，disappearaltogetheronthethickerone，tuberculatum，asoldagegiveshimasolidandheavygloboseshell;andnext，thathetoo，whileyoungandtender，andliablethereforetobeboredthroughbywhelksandsuchmurderousunivalves，doesactuallypossessthesamebriar—
　　prickles，whichhisthinnercousinskeepthroughoutlife。
　　Nevertheless，prickles，inallthreespecies，are，asfaraswecansee，uselessinTorbay，wherenowolf—fish（Anarrhichaslupus）orotherownerofshell—crushingjawswanders，terribletolobsterandtocockle。Originallyintended，aswesuppose，tofacethestrong—
　　toothedmonstersoftheMediterranean，theseforeignershavewanderednorthwardtoshoreswheretheirarmourisnotnowneeded;
　　andyetcenturiesofidlenessandsecurityhavenotbeenabletopersuadethemtolayitby。This—ifmyexplanationistherightone—isbutonemorecaseamonghundredsinwhichpeculiarities，usefuldoubtlesstotheiroriginalpossessors，remain，thoughnowuseless，intheirdescendants。Justsodoesthetameraminheritthenowsuperfluoushornsofhisprimevalwildancestors，thoughhefightsnow—ifhefightsatall—notwithhishorns，butwithhisforehead。
　　EnoughofCardiumtuberculatum。Nowfortheotheranimalsoftheheap;andfirst，forthoselongwhiterazors。They，aswellasthegreyscimitars，areSolens，Razor—fish（SolensiliquaandS。
　　ensis），burrowersinthesandbythatfootwhichprotrudesfromoneend，nimbleinescapingfromtheTorquayboys，whomyouwillseeboringforthemwithalongironscrew，onthesandsatlowtide。
　　Theyareverygoodtoeat，theserazor—fish;atleast，forthosewhosothinkthem;andaboundinmillionsuponalloursandyshores。（3）
　　Nowforthetaperingbrownspires。TheyareTurritellae，snail—
　　likeanimals（thoughtheformoftheshellisdifferent），whocrawlandbrowsebythousandsonthebedsofZostera，orgrasswrack，whichyouseethrownaboutonthebeach，andwhichgrowsnaturallyintwoorthreefathomswater。Stay：hereisonewhichis"morethanitself。"Onitsbackismountedaclusterofbarnacles（BalanusPorcatus），ofthesamefamilyasthosewhichstudthetide—rocksinmillions，scratchingthelegsofhaplessbathers。Ofthem，Iwillspeakpresently;forImayhaveastillmorecuriousmemberofthefamilytoshowyou。Butmeanwhile，lookatthemouthoftheshell;alonggreywormprotrudesfromit，whichisnottherightfulinhabitant。Heisdeadlongsince，andhisplacehasbeenoccupiedbyoneSipunculusBernhardi;awightoflowdegree，whoconnects"radiate"withannulateforms—inplainEnglish，sea—
　　cucumbers（ofwhichweshallseesomesoon）withsea—worms。Buthoweverlowinthescaleofcomparativeanatomy，hehaswitenoughtotakecareofhimself;meanuglylittlewormasheseems。ForfindingthemouthoftheTurritellatoobigforhim，hehasplastereditupwithsandandmud（Heavenaloneknowshow），justasawry—neckplastersupaholeinanapple—treewhensheintendstobuildtherein，andhasleftonlyaroundhole，outofwhichhecanpokehisproboscis。Acuriousthingisthisproboscis，whenseenthroughthemagnifier。Youperceivearingoftentaclesroundthemouth，forpickingupIknownotwhat;andyouwillperceive，too，ifyouwatchit，thatwhenhedrawsitin，heturnsmouth，tentaclesandall，inwards，andsodownintohisstomach，justasifyouweretoturnthefingerofagloveinwardfromthetiptillitpassedintothehand;andsoperforms，everytimeheeats，theclown’sasyetidealfeat，ofjumpingdownhisownthroat。（4）
　　Somuchhaveweseenononelittleshell。Butthereismoretoseeclosetoit。ThoseyellowplantswhichIlikenedtosquirrels’
　　tailsandlobsters’horns，andwhatnot，arezoophytesofdifferentkinds。HereisSertulariaargentea（truesquirrel’stail）;here，S。filicula，asdelicateastangledthreadsofglass;here，abietina;here，rosacea。Thelobsters’hornsareAntennariaantennina;andmingledwiththemarePlumulariae，alwaystobedistinguishedfromSertulariaebypolypesgrowingononesideofthebranch，andnotonboth。Hereisfalcata，withitsrootstwistedroundasea—weed。Hereiscristata，onthesameweed;andhereisapieceofthebeautifulmyriophyllum，whichhasbeenbatteredinitslongjourneyoutofthedeepwaterabouttheorerock。ForalltheseyoumustconsultJohnson’s"Zoophytes，"andforadozensmallerspecies，whichyouwouldprobablyfindtangledamongthem，orparasiticonthesea—weed。HereareFlustrae，orsea—mats。This，whichsmellsverylikeVerbena，isFlustracoriacea（Pl。I。Fig。2）。Thatscurfonthefrondofore—weedisF。lineata（Pl。Fig。1）。TheglassbellstwinedaboutthisSertulariaareCampanulariasyringa（Pl。I。Fig。9）;andhereisatinyplantofCellulariaciliata（Pl。I。Fig。8）。Lookatitthroughthefield—glass;foritistrulywonderful。Eachpolypecellisedgedwithwhip—likespines，andonthebackofsomeofthemis—whatisit，butalivevulture’shead，snappingandsnapping—whatfor？
　　Nay，reader，Iamheretoshowyouwhatcanbeseen：butasfortellingyouwhatcanbeknown，muchmorewhatcannot，Idecline;
　　andreferyoutoJohnson’s"Zoophytes，"whereinyouwillfindthatseveralspeciesofpolypescarrythesesamebirds’heads：butwhethertheybepartsofthepolype，andofwhatusetheyare，nomanlivingknoweth。
　　Next，whatarethestripedpears？Theyaresea—anemones，andofaspeciesonlylatelywellknown，Sagartiaviduata，thesnake—lockedanemone（Pl。V。Fig。3（5））。Theyhavebeenwashedofftheloosestonestowhichtheyusuallyadherebythepitilessrolloftheground—swell;however，theyarenotsofargone，butthatifyoutakeoneofthemhome，andputitinajarofwater，itwillexpandintoadelicatecompoundflower，whichcanneitherbedescribednorpainted，oflongpellucidtentacles，hanginglikeathinbluishcloudoveradiskofmottledbrownandgrey。
　　Here，adheringtothislargewhelk，isanother，butfarlargerandcoarser。ItisSagartiaparasitica，oneofourlargestBritishspecies;andmostsingularinthis，thatitisalmostalways（inTorbay，atleast，）foundadheringtoawhelk：butnevertoaliveone;andforthisreason。Thelivewhelk（asyoumayseeforyourselfwhenthetideisout）burrowsinthesandinchaseofhaplessbivalveshells，whomheboresthroughwithhissharptongue（always，cunningfellow，closetothehinge，wherethefishis），andthensucksouttheirlife。Now，iftheanemonestucktohim，itwouldbecarriedunderthesanddaily，toitsowndisgust。Itprefers，therefore，thedeadwhelk，inhabitedbyasoldiercrab，PagurusBernhardi（Pl。II。Fig。2），ofwhichyoumayfindadozenanywhereasthetidegoesout;andtravelsaboutatthecrab’sexpense，sharingwithhimtheoffalwhichishisfood。Note，moreover，thatthesoldiercrabisthemosthastyandblunderingofmarineanimals，asactiveasamonkey，andassubjecttopanicsasahorse;whereforethepooranemoneonhisbackmusthaveahardlifeofit;beingknockedaboutagainstrocksandshells，withoutwarning，frommorntonightandnighttomorn。Againstwhichdanger，kindNature，everMAXIMAINMINIMIS，hasprovidedbyfittinghimwithastoutleathercoat，whichshehasgiven，I
　　believe，tonootherofhisfamily。
　　Next，forthebabies’heads，coveredwithprickles，insteadofhair。Theyaresea—urchins，Amphidotuscordatus，whichburrowbythousandsinthesand。TheseareofthatSpatangoidform，whichyouwilloftenfindfossilinthechalk，andwhichshepherdboyscallsnakes’heads。Weshallsoonfindanothersort，anEchinus，andhavetimetotalkoverthesemoststrange（inmyeyes）ofalllivinganimals。
　　Thereareahundredmorethingstobetalkedofhere：butwemustdefertheexaminationofthemtillourreturn;foritwantsanhouryetofthedeadlowspring—tide;anderewegohome，wewillspendafewminutesatleastontherocksatLivermead，whereawaitsusastrong—backedquarryman，withastrong—backedcrowbar，asistobehoped（forhesnappedonerightacrossthereyesterday，fallingmiserablyonhisbackintoapoolthereby），andwewillverifyMr。
　　Gosse’sobservation，that—
　　"Whenoncewehavebeguntolookwithcuriosityonthestrangethingsthatordinarypeoplepassoverwithoutnotice，ourwonderiscontinuallyexcitedbythevarietyofphase，andoftenbytheuncouthnessofform，underwhichsomeofthemeanercreaturesarepresentedtous。Andthisisveryspeciallythecasewiththeinhabitantsofthesea。Wecanscarcelypokeorpryforanhouramongtherocks，atlow—watermark，orwalk，withanobservantdowncasteye，alongthebeachafteragale，withoutfindingsomeoddly—fashioned，suspicious—lookingbeing，unlikeanyformoflifethatwehaveseenbefore。Thedarkconcealedinterioroftheseabecomesthusinvestedwithafreshmystery;itsvastrecessesappeartobestoredwithallimaginableforms;andwearetemptedtothinktheremustbemultitudesoflivingcreatureswhoseveryfigureandstructurehaveneveryetbeensuspected。
　　"’Osea！oldsea！whoyetknowshalfOfthywondersorthypride！’"
　　GOSSE’SAQUARIUM，pp。226，227。
　　Thesewordshavemorethanfulfilledthemselvessincetheywerewritten。ThoseDeep—Seadredgings，ofwhichadetailedaccountwillbefoundinDr。WyvilleThomson’snewandmostbeautifulbook，"TheDepthsoftheSea，"havedisclosed，oflateyears，wondersofthedeepevenmorestrangeandmoremultitudinousthanthewondersoftheshore。Thetimeispastwhenwethoughtourselvesboundtobelieve，withProfessorEdwardForbes，thatonlysomehundredfathomsdown，theinhabitantsofthesea—bottom"becomemoreandmoremodified，andfewerandfewer，indicatingourapproachtowardsanabysswherelifeiseitherextinguished，orexhibitsbutafewsparkstomarkit’slingeringpresence。"
　　Neithernowneedweindulgeinanothertheorywhichhadacertaingrandeurinit，andwasnotsoabsurdasitlooksatfirstsight，—
　　namely，that，asDr。WyvilleThomsonputsit，picturesquelyenough，"ingoingdowntheseawaterbecame，underthepressure，graduallyheavierandheavier，andthatalltheloosethingsfloatedatdifferentlevels，accordingtotheirspecificweight，—skeletonsofmen，anchorsandshotandcannon，andlastofallthebroadgoldpieceslostinthewreckofmanyagalleonofftheSpanishMain;
　　thewholeformingakindof’falsebottom’totheocean，beneathwhichtherelayallthedepthofclearstillwater，whichwasheavierthanmoltengold。"
　　Thefactsare;firstthatwater，beingallbutincompressible，ishardlyanyheavier，andjustasliquid，atthegreatestdepth，thanatthesurface;andthatthereforeanimalscanmoveasfreelyinitindeepasinshallowwater;andnext，thatasthefluidsinsidethebodyofaseaanimalmustbeatthesamepressureasthatofthewateroutsideit，thetwopressuresmustbalanceeachother;
　　andthebody，insteadofbeingcrushedin，maybeunconsciousthatitislivingunderaweightoftwoorthreemilesofwater。Butsoitis;aswegatherourcuriositiesatlow—tidemark，orhaulthedredgeamileortwooutatsea，wemayallowourfancytorangefreelyouttothewestward，anddownoverthesubaqueouscliffsofthehundred—fathomline，whichmarktheoldshoreoftheBritishIsles，orratherofatimewhenBritainandIrelandwerepartofthecontinent，throughwateramile，andtwo，andthreemilesdeep，intototaldarkness，andicycold，andapressurewhich，intheopenair，wouldcrushanyknownlivingcreaturetoajelly;andbecertainthatweshallfindtheocean—floorteemingeverywherewithmultitudinouslife，someofitstrangelylike，somestrangelyunlike，thecreatureswhichweseealongtheshore。
　　Somestrangelylike。Youmayfind，forinstance，amongthesea—
　　weed，hereandthere，alittleblacksea—spider，aNymphon，whohasthispeculiarity，thatpossessingnobodyatalltospeakof，hecarrieshisneedfulstomachinlongbranches，packedinsidehislegs。Thespecimenswhichyouwillfindwillprobablybehalfaninchacrossthelegs。AnalmostexactlysimilarNymphonhasbeendredgedfromthedepthsoftheArcticandAntarcticoceans，nearlytwofeetacross。
　　Youmayfindalsoaquaintlittleshrimp，CAPRELLA，clingingbyitshindclawstosea—weed，andwavingitsgauntgrotesquebodytoandfro，whileitmakesmesmericpasseswithitslargeforeclaws，—
　　oneofthemostridiculousofNature’smanyridiculousforms。
　　Thosewhichyouwillfindwillbesomequarterofaninchinlength;butinthecoldareaoftheNorthAtlantic，theircousins，itisnowfound，arenearlythreeincheslong，andperchinlikemanner，notonsea—weeds，fortherearenonesodeep，butonbranchingsponges。
　　Thesearebuttwoinstancesoutofmanyofformswhichweresupposedtobepeculiartoshallowshoresrepeatingthemselvesatvastdepths：thusforcingonusstrangequestionsaboutchangesinthedistributionanddepthoftheancientseas;andforcingus，also，toreconsidertheoldrulesbywhichrocksweredistinguishedasdeep—seaorshallow—seadepositsaccordingtothefossilsfoundinthem。
　　Asforthenewforms，andevenmoreimportantthanthem，theancientforms，supposedtohavebeenlongextinct，andonlyknownasfossils，tilltheywerelatelyrediscoveredaliveinthenetherdarkness，—forthemyoumustconsultDr。WyvilleThomson’sbook，andthenoticesofthe"Challenger’s"dredgingswhichappearfromtimetotimeinthecolumnsof"Nature;"forwantofspaceforbidsmyspeakingofthemhere。
　　Butifyouhavenotimetoread"TheDepthsoftheSea，"goatleasttotheBritishMuseum，orifyoubeanorthernman，totheadmirablepublicmuseumatLiverpool;asktobeshownthedeep—seaforms;andtherefeastyourcuriosityandyoursenseofbeautyforanhour。LookattheCrinoids，orstalkedstar—fishes，the"Liliesoflivingstone，"whichswarmedintheancientseas，invastvariety，andinsuchnumbersthatwholebedsoflimestonearecomposedoftheirdisjointedfragments;butwhichhavevanishedoutofourmodernseas，weknownotwhy，till，afewyearssince，almosttheonlyknownlivingspecieswastheexquisiteandrarePentacrinusasteria，fromdeepwaterofftheWindwardIslesoftheWestIndies。
　　OfthisyouwillseeaspecimenortwobothatLiverpoolandintheBritishMuseum;andnearthem，probably，specimensofthenew—oldCrinoids，discoveredoflateyearsbyProfessorSars，Mr。GwynJeffreys，Dr。Carpenter，Dr。WyvilleThomson，andtheotherdeep—
　　seadisciplesofthemythicGlaucus，thefisherman，who，enamouredofthewondersofthesea，plungedintotheblueabyssonceandforall，andbecamehimself"theblueoldmanofthesea。"
　　Nextlookatthecorals，andGorgonias，andallthesea—ferntribeofbranchingpolypidoms，andlast，butnotleast，attheglasssponges;firstattheEuplectella，orVenus’sflower—basket，whichlivesembeddedinthemudoftheseasofthePhilippines，supportedbyaglassfrill"standinguprounditlikeanElizabethanruff。"
　　TwentyyearsagotherewasbutonespecimeninEurope：nowyoumaybuyoneforapoundinanycuriosityshop。Iadviseyoutodoso，andtokeep—asIhaveseendone—underaglasscase，asadelighttoyoureyes，oneofthemostexquisite，bothforformandtexture，ofnaturalobjects。
　　ThenlookattheHyalonemas，orglass—ropeoceanfloorbyatwistedwispofstrongflexibleflintneedles，somewhatontheprincipleofascrew—pile。Sostrangeandcomplicatedistheirstructure，thatnaturalistsforalongwhilecouldliterallymakeneitherheadnortailofthem，aslongastheyhadonlyJapanesespecimenstostudy，someofwhichtheJapanesedealershad，ofmaliceprepense，stuckupsidedownintoPholas—boringsinstones。Whichwastopandwhichbottom;whichthethingitself，andwhichspecialparasitesgrowingonit;whetheritwasasponge，orazoophyte，orsomethingelse;
　　atonetimeevenwhetheritwasnatural，orartificialandamake—
　　up，—couldnotbesettled，eventillayearortwosince。Butthediscoveryofthesame，orasimilar，speciesinabundancefromtheButtoftheLowsdowntoSetubalonthePortuguesecoast，wherethedeep—watersharkfisherscallit"sea—whip，"hasgivenoursavantsspecimensenoughtomakeuptheirminds—thattheyreallyknowlittleornothingaboutit，andprobablywillneverknow。
　　Anddonotforget，lastly，toask，whetheratLiverpoolorattheBritishMuseum，fortheHolteniasandtheircongeners，—hollowspongesbuiltupofglassyspicules，androotedinthemudbyglasshairs，insomecasesbetweentwoandthreefeetlong，asflexibleandgracefulastressesofsnow—whitesilk。
　　Lookatthese，andahundredkindredforms，andthenseehownatureisnotonly"maximainminimis"—greatestinherleast，butoften"pulcherrimainabditis"—fairestinhermosthiddenworks;andhowtheCreativeSpirithaslavished，asitwere，unspeakableartisticskillonlowly—organizedcreature，nevertillnowbeheldbyman，andburied，notonlyinfoulmud，butintheirownunsightlyheapoflivingjelly。
　　Butsoitwasfromthebeginning;—andthisplanetwasnotmadeformanalone。Countlessagesbeforeweappearedonearththedepthsoftheoldchalk—oceanteemedwithformsasbeautifulandperfectasthose，theirlinealdescendants，whichthedredgenowbringsupfromtheAtlanticsea—floor;andiftherewere—asmyreasontellsmethattheremusthavebeen—finalmoralcausesfortheirexistence，theonlyoneswhichwehavearighttoimaginearethese—thatall，downtothelowestRhizopod，mightdelightthemselves，howeverdimly，inexisting;andthattheLordmightdelightHimselfinthem。
　　Thus，much—alas！howlittle—aboutthewondersofthedeep。We，whoarenodeep—seadredgers，mustreturnhumblytothewondersoftheshore。Andfirst，asafterdescendingthegapinthesea—wallwewalkalongtheribbedfloorofhardyellowsand，letmeaskyoutogiveasharplook—outforaroundgreydisc，aboutasbigasapenny—piece，peepingoutonthesurface。No;thatisnotit，thatlittlelump：openit，andyouwillfindwithinoneofthecommonlittleVenusgallina。—Theclosetcollectorshavegivenitsomenewnamenow，andnothankstothem：theyarealwayschangingthenames，insteadofstudyingtheliveanimalswhereNaturehasputthem，inwhichcasetheywouldhavenotimeforword—inventing。
　　Nay，Iverifysuspectthatthenamesgrow，likeotherthings;atleast，theygetlongerandlongerandmorejaw—breakingeveryyear。
　　Thelittlebivalve，however，findingitselfleftbythetide，haswiselyshutupitssiphons，and，bymeansofitsfootanditsedges，burieditselfinacomfortablebathofcoolwetsand，tilltheseashallcomeback，andmakeitsafetocrawlandloungeaboutonthesurface，smokingthesea—waterinsteadoftobacco。Neitheristhatdepressionwhatweseek。Touchit，andoutpokeapairofastonishedandinquiringhorns：itisalong—armedcrab，whosawuscoming，andwiselyshovelledhimselfintothesandbymeansofhisnether—end。CorystesCassivelaunusishisname，whichheissaidtohaveacquiredfromthemarksonhisback，whicharesomewhatlikeahumanface。"Thoselongantennae，"saysmyfriend，Mr。Lloyd（6）—Ihavenotverifiedthefact，butbelieveit，asheknowsagreatdealaboutcrabs，andIknownexttonothing—"formatubethroughwhichacurrentofwaterpassesintothecrab’sgills，freefromthesurroundingsand。"Moreover，itisonlythemalewhohasthosestrangelylongfore—armsandclaws;thefemalecontentingherselfwithlimbsofamoremoderatelength。Neitheristhat，thoughitmightbe，theholedownwhichwhatweseekhasvanished：butthatburrowcontainsoneofthelongwhiterazorswhichyousawcastonshoreatPaignton。Theboysclosebyareboringforthemwithironrodsarmedwithascrew，andtakingthemintosellinTorquaymarket，asexcellentfood。Butthereisone，atlast—agreydiscpoutingupthroughthesand。Touchit，anditisgonedown，quickaslight。Wemustdigitout，andcarefully，foritisadelicatemonster。Atlast，aftertenminutes’carefulwork，wehavebroughtup，fromafootdepthormore—what？Athick，dirty，slimyworm，withoutheadortail，formorcolour。Aslughasmoreartisticbeautyabouthim。Beitso。Athomeintheaquarium（where，alas！hewilllivebutforadayortwo，underthenewirritationoflight）hewillmakeaverydifferentfigure。ThatisoneoftherarestofBritishsea—
　　animals，Peachiahastata（Pl。XII。Fig。1），whichdiffersfrommostotherBritishActiniaeinthis，thatinsteadofhavinglikethemawalkingdisc，ithasafreeopenlowerend，withwhich（Iknownothow）itburiesitselfuprightinthesand，withitsmouthjustabovethesurface。Thefigureontheleftoftheplaterepresentsacuriousclusterofpapillaewhichprojectfromonesideofthemouth，andaretheopeningoftheoviduct。Buthisvalueconsists，notmerelyinhisbeauty（thoughthat，really，isnotsmall），butinhisbelongingtowhatthelongword—makerscallan"interosculant"group，—apartyofgeneraandspecieswhichconnectfamiliesscientificallyfarapart，fillingupafreshlinkinthegreatchain，orratherthegreatnetwork，ofzoologicalclassification。Forherewehaveasimple，and，asitwere，crudeform;ofwhich，ifwedaredtoindulgeinreveries，wemightsaythattheCreativeMindrealizeditbeforeeitherActiniaeorHolothurians，andthenwentontoperfecttheideacontainedinitintwodifferentdirections;dividingitintotwodifferentfamilies，andmakingonitsmodel，byaddingneworgans，andtakingawayoldones，inonedirectionthewholefamilyofActiniae（sea—
　　anemones），andinaquiteoppositeonetheHolothuriae，thosestrangesea—cucumbers，withtheirmouth—fringeoffeatherygills，ofwhichyoushallseesomeanon。Thustherehasbeen，intheCreativeMind，asitgavelifetonewspecies，adevelopmentoftheideaonwhicholderspecieswerecreated，inorder—wemayfancy—
　　thateverymeshofthegreatnetmightgraduallybesupplied，andthereshouldbenogapsintheperfectvarietyofNature’sforms。
　　Thisdevelopmentisonewhichwemustbelievetobeatleastpossible，ifweallowthataMindpresidesovertheuniverse，andnotamerebrutenecessity，aLaw（absurdmisnomer）withoutaLawgiver;andtoit（strangelyenoughcoincidinghereandtherewiththePlatonicdoctrineofEternalIdeasexistingintheDivineMind）allfreshinductivediscoveryseemstopointmoreandmore。
　　Letmespeakfreelyafewwordsonthisimportantmatter。Geologyhasdisprovedtheoldpopularbeliefthattheuniversewasbroughtintobeingasitnowexistsbyasinglefiat。Weknowthattheworkhasbeengradual;thattheearth"Intractsoffluentheatbegan，Theseemingpreyofcyclicstorms，Thehomeofseemingrandomforms，Till，atthelast，arosetheman。"
　　Andweknow，also，thattheseforms，"seemingrandom"astheyare，haveappearedaccordingtoalawwhich，asfaraswecanjudge，hasbeenonthewholeoneofprogress，—loweranimals（thoughwecannotyetsay，thelowest）appearingfirst，andman，thehighestmammal，"theroofandcrownofthings，"oneofthelatestintheseries。Wehavenomoreright，letitbeobserved，tosaythatman，thehighest，appearedlast，thanthatthelowestappearedfirst。Itwasprobablyso，inbothcases;butthereisasyetnopositiveproofofeither;andasweknowthatspeciesofanimalslowerthanthosewhichalreadyexistedappearedagainandagainduringthevariouseras，soitisquitepossiblethattheymaybeappearingnow，andmayappearhereafter：andthatforeveryextinctDodoorMoa，anewspeciesmaybecreated，tokeepuptheequilibriumofthewhole。Thisisbutasurmise：butitmaybewise，perhaps，justnow，toconfessboldly，eventoinsiston，itspossibility，lestanyshouldfancy，fromourunwillingnesstoallowit，thattherewouldbeoughtinit，ifproved，contrarytosoundreligion。
　　Iam，Imusthonestlyconfess，moreandmoreunabletoperceiveanythingwhichanorthodoxChristianmaynothold，inthosephysicaltheoriesof"evolution，"whicharegainingmoreandmoretheassentofourbestzoologistsandbotanists。Allthattheyaskustobelieveis，that"species"and"families，"andindeedthewholeoforganicnature，havegonethrough，andmaystillbegoingthrough，somesuchdevelopmentfromalowestgerm，asweknowthateverylivingindividual，fromthelowestzoophytetomanhimself，doesactuallygothrough。Theyapplytothewholeofthelivingworld，past，present，andfuture，thelawwhichisundeniablyatworkoneachindividualofit。Theymaybewrong，ortheymayberight：butwhatisthereinsuchaconceptioncontrarytoanydoctrine—atleastoftheChurchofEngland？Tosaythatthiscannotbetrue;thatspeciescannotvary，becauseGod，atthebeginning，createdeachthing"accordingtoitskind，"isreallytobegthequestion;whichis—Doestheideaof"kind"includevariabilityornot？andifso，howmuchvariability？Now，"kind，"
　　or"species，"aswecallit，isdefinednowhereintheBible。Whatrighthavewetoreadourowndefinitionintotheword？—andthatagainstthecertainfact，thatsome"kinds"dovary，andthatwidely，—mankind，forinstance，andtheanimalsandplantswhichhedomesticates。Surelythatlatterfactshouldbesignificant，tothosewhobelieve，asIdo，thatmanwascreatedinthelikenessofGod。Forifmanhasthepower，notonlyofmakingplantsandanimalsvary，butofdevelopingthemintoformsofhigherbeautyandusefulnessthantheirwildancestorspossessed，whyshouldnottheGodinwhoseimageheismadepossessthesamepower？Iftheoldtheologicalrulebetrue—"ThereisnothinginmanwhichwasnotfirstinGod"（sin，ofcourse，excluded）—thenwhyshouldnotthisimperfectcreativefacultyinmanbetheveryguaranteethatGodpossessesitinperfection？
　　Suchatleastistheconclusionofonewho，studyingcertainfamiliesofplants，whichindulgeinthemostfantasticvarietiesofshapeandsize，andyetthroughalltheirvagariesretain—asdothePalms，theOrchids，theEuphorbiaceae—oneorgan，orformoforgans，peculiarandhighlyspecialized，yetconstantthroughoutthewholeofeachfamily，hasbeendriventothebeliefthateachofthesethreefamilies，atleast，has"sportedoff"fromonecommonancestor—onearchetypalPalm，onearchetypalOrchid，onearchetypalEuphorbia，simple，itmaybe，initself，butendowedwithinfinitepossibilitiesofnewandcomplexbeauty，tobedeveloped，notinit，butinitsdescendants。Hehasaskedhimself，sittingaloneamidtheboundlesswealthoftropicforests，whethereventhenandtherethegreatGodmightnotbecreatingroundhim，slowlybutsurely，newformsofbeauty？Ifhechosetodoit，couldHenotdoit？ThatmanfoundhimselfnonetheworseChristianforthethought。Hehassaid—andmustbeallowedtosayagain，forheseesnoreasontoalterhiswords—inspeakingofthewonderfulvarietyofformsintheEuphorbiaceae，fromtheweedyEnglishEuphorbias，theDog’sMercuries，andtheBox，totheprickly—stemmedScarletEuphorbiaofMadagascar，thesucculentCactus—likeEuphorbiasoftheCanariesandelsewhere;theGale—likePhyllanthus;themany—formedCrotons;theHemp—likeManiocs，Physic—nuts，Castor—oils，thescarletPoinsettia，thelittlepinkandyellowDalechampia，thepoisonousManchineel，andthegiganticHura，orsandboxtree，oftheWestIndies，—allsodifferentinshapeandsize，yetallalikeintheirmostpeculiarandcomplexfructification，andintheiracridmilkyjuice，—"Whatifalltheseformsarethedescendantsofoneoriginalform？Wouldthatbeonewhitthemorewonderfulthanthetheorythattheywere，eachandall，withtheminute，andoftenimaginary，shadesofdifferencebetweencertaincognatespeciesamongthem，createdseparatelyandatonce？Butifitbeso—whichIcannotallow—whatwouldthetheologianhavetosay，savethatGod’sworksareevenmorewonderfulthanhealwaysbelievedthemtobe？Asforthetheorybeingimpossible—thatistobedecidedbymenofscience，onstrictexperimentalgrounds。Asforustheologians，whoarewe，thatweshouldlimit，？priori，thepowerofGod？’IsanythingtoohardfortheLord？’askedtheprophetofold;andwehavearighttoaskitaslongastheworldshalllast。Ifitbesaidthat’naturalselection，’or，asMr。HerbertSpencerbetterdefinesit，the’survivalofthefittest，’istoosimpleacausetoproducesuchfantasticvariety—that，again，isaquestiontobesettledexclusivelybymenofscience，ontheirowngrounds。We，meanwhile，alwaysknewthatGodworksbyverysimple，orseeminglysimple，means;thattheuniverse，asfaraswecoulddiscernit，wasoneorganizationofthemostsimplemeans。Itwaswonderful—
　　orshouldhavebeen—inoureyes，thatashowerofrainshouldmakethegrassgrow，andthatthegrassshouldbecomeflesh，andthefleshfoodforthethinkingbrainofman。Itwas—oroughttohavebeen—morewonderfulyettousthatachildshouldresembleitsparents，orevenabutterflyresemble，ifnotalways，stillusually，itsparentslikewise。OughtGodtoappearlessormoreaugustinoureyesifwediscoverthatthemeansareevensimplerthanwesupposed？WeheldHimtobeAlmightyandAll—wise。ArewetoreverenceHimlessormoreifwefindHimtobesomuchmightier，somuchwiser，thanwedreamed，thatHecannotonlymakeallthings，but—theveryperfectionofcreativepower—MAKEALL
　　THINGSMAKETHEMSELVES？WebelievedthatHiscarewasoverallHisworks;thatHisprovidenceworkedperpetuallyovertheuniverse。
　　Weweretaught—someofusatleast—byHolyScripture，thatwithoutHimnotasparrowfelltotheground，andthattheveryhairsofourheadwereallnumbered;thatthewholehistoryoftheuniversewasmadeup，infact，ofaninfinitenetworkofspecialprovidences。If，then，thatshouldbetruewhichagreatnaturalistwrites，’Itmaybemetaphoricallysaidthatnaturalselectionisdailyandhourlyscrutinizing，throughouttheworld，everyvariation，eventheslightest;rejectingthatwhichisbad，preservingandaddingupallthatisgood;silentlyandinsensiblyworking，wheneverandwhereveropportunityoffers，attheimprovementofeachorganicbeing，inrelationtoitsorganicandinorganicconditionsoflife，’—ifthis，Isay，wereprovedtobetrue，oughtGod’scareandGod’sprovidencetoseemlessormoremagnificentinoureyes？OfolditwassaidbyHimwithoutwhomnothingismade—’MyFatherworkethhitherto，andIwork。’Shallwequarrelwithphysicalscience，ifshegivesusevidencethatthosewordsaretrue？"
　　And—understanditwell—thegrandpassageIhavejustquotedneednotbeaccusedofsubstituting"naturalselectionforGod。"
　　InanycasenaturalselectionwouldbeonlythemeansorlawbywhichGodworks，asHedoesbyothernaturallaws。WedonotsubstitutegravitationforGod，whenwesaythattheplanetsaresustainedintheirorbitsbythelawofgravitation。Thetheoryaboutnaturalselectionmaybeuntrue，orimperfect，asmaythemoderntheoriesofthe"evolutionandprogress"oforganicforms：
　　letthemanofsciencedecidethat。Butiftrue，thetheoriesseemtomeperfectlytoagreewith，andmaybeperfectlyexplainedby，thesimpleoldbeliefwhichtheBiblesetsbeforeus，ofaLIVING
　　GOD：notamerepastwill，suchastheKoransetsforth，creatingonceandforall，andthenleavingtheuniverse，touseGoethe’ssimile，"tospinroundhisfinger;"noragain，an"all—pervadingspirit，"wordswhicharemerecontradictoryjargon，concealing，fromthosewhoutterthem，blankMaterialism：butOnewhoworksinallthingswhichhaveobeyedHimtowillandtodoofHisgoodpleasure，keepingHisabysmalandself—perfectpurpose，yetalteringthemethodsbywhichthatpurposeisattained，fromaeontoaeon，ay，frommomenttomoment，forevervarious，yetforeverthesame。ThisgreatandyetmostblessedparadoxoftheChangelessGod，whoyetcansay"Itrepentethme，"and"Behold，I
　　workanewthingontheearth，"isrevealednolessbynaturethanbyScripture;thechangeableness，notofcapriceorimperfection，butofanInfiniteMakerand"Poietes，"drawingeverfreshformsoutoftheinexhaustibletreasuryofHisprimaevalMind;andyetneverthrowingawayaconceptiontowhichHehasoncegivenactualbirthintimeandspace，（buttocomparereverentlysmallthingsandgreat）lovinglyrepeatingit，re—applyingit;producingthesameeffectsbyendlesslydifferentmethods;orsodelicatelymodifyingthemethodthat，asbytheturnofahair，itshallproduceendlesslydiverseeffects;lookingback，asitwere，everandanonoverthegreatworkofalltheages，toretouchit，andfillupeachchasminthescheme，whichforsomegoodpurposehadbeenleftopeninearlierworlds;orleavingsomeopen（theforms，forinstance，necessarytoconnectthebimanaandthequadrumana）
　　tobefilledupperhapshereafterwhentheworldneedsthem;thehandiwork，inshort，ofalivingandlovingMind，perfectinHisowneternity，butstoopingtoworkintimeandspace，andthererejoicingHimselfintheworkofHisownhands，andinHiseternalSabbathsceasinginrestineffable，thatHemaylookonthatwhichHehathmade，andbeholditisverygood。
　　Ispeak，ofcourse，undercorrection;forthisconclusionisemphaticallymatterofinduction，andmustbeverifiedormodifiedbyever—freshfacts：butImeetwithmanyaChristianpassageinscientificbooks，whichseemstometogo，nottoofar，butrathernotfarenough，inassertingtheGodoftheBible，asSaintPaulsays，"nottohaveleftHimselfwithoutwitness，"innatureitself，thatHeistheGodofgrace。WhyspeakoftheGodofnatureandtheGodofgraceastwoantitheticalterms？TheBiblenever，inasingleinstance，makesthedistinction;andsurely，ifGodbe（asHeis）theEternalandUnchangeableOne，andif（asweallconfess）
　　theuniversebearstheimpressofHissignet，wehavenoright，inthepresentinfantilestateofscience，toputarbitrarylimitsofourowntotherevelationwhichHemayhavethoughtgoodtomakeofHimselfinnature。Nay，rather，letusbelievethat，ifoureyeswereopened，weshouldfulfiltherequirementofGenius，to"seetheuniversalintheparticular，"byseeingGod’swholelikeness，Hiswholeglory，reflectedasinamirroreveninthemeanestflower;andthatnothingbutthedulnessofourownsoulspreventsthemfromseeingdayandnightinallthings，howeversmallortrivialtohumaneclecticism，theLordJesusChristHimselffulfillingHisownsaying，"MyFatherworkethhitherto，andI
　　work。"
　　Tomeitseems（tosumup，inafewwords，whatIhavetriedtosay）thatsuchdevelopmentandprogressashaveasyetbeenactuallydiscoveredinnature，beareverytraceofhavingbeenproducedbysuccessiveactsofthoughtandwillinsomepersonalmind;which，howeverboundlesslyrichandpowerful，isstilltheArchetypeofthehumanmind;andtherefore（fortothisIconfessI
　　havebeenallalongtending）probablycapable，withoutviolencetoitsproperties，ofbecoming，likethehumanmind，incarnate。
　　Buttodescendfromtheseperhapstoodaringspeculations，thereisanother，andmorehuman，sourceofinterestabouttheanimalwhoiswrithingfeeblyintheglassjarofsaltwater;forheisoneofthemanycuriositieswhichhavebeenaddedtoourfaunabythathumbleheroMr。CharlesPeach，theself—taughtnaturalist，ofwhom，aswewalkontowardtherocks，somethingshouldbesaid，orratherread;forMr。Chambers，inanoften—quotedpassagefromhisEdinburghJournal，whichImusthavethepleasureofquotingonceagain，hastoldthestorybetterthanwecantellit：—
　　"Butwhoisthatlittleintelligent—lookingmaninafadednavaluniform，whoissoinvariablytobeseeninaparticularcentralseatinthissection？That，gentlereader，isperhapsoneofthemostinterestingmenwhoattendtheBritishAssociation。Heisonlyaprivateinthemountedguard（preventiveservice）atanobscurepartoftheCornwallcoast，withfourshillingsaday，andawifeandninechildren，mostofwhoseeducationhehashimselftoconduct。Henevertastestheluxurieswhicharesocommoninthemiddleranksoflife，andevenamongstalargeportionoftheworkingclasses。Hehastomendwithhisownhandseverysortofthingthatcanbreakorwearinhishouse。YetMr。PeachisavotaryofNaturalHistory;notastudentofthescienceinbooks，forhecannotaffordbooks;butaninvestigatorbyseaandshore，acollectorofZoophytesandEchinodermata—strangecreatures，manyofwhichareasyethardlyknowntoman。Thesehecollects，preserves，anddescribes;andeveryyeardoeshecomeuptotheBritishAssociationwithafewnoveltiesofthiskind，accompaniedbyillustrativepapersanddrawings：thus，undercircumstancestheveryoppositeofthoseofsuchmenasLordEnniskillen，adding，inlikemanner，tothegeneralstockofknowledge。Onthepresentoccasionheisunusuallyelated，forhehasmadethediscoveryofaHolothuriawithtwentytentacula，aspeciesoftheEchinodermatawhichProfessorForbes，inhisbookonStar—Fishes，hassaidwasneveryetobservedintheBritishseas。Itmaybeofsmallmomenttoyou，who，mayhap，knownothingofHolothurias：butitisaconsiderablethingtotheFaunaofBritain，andavastmattertoapoorprivateoftheCornwallmountedguard。Andaccordinglyhewillgohomeinafewdays，fullofthegloryofhisexhibition，andstronganewbythekindnoticetakenofhimbythemastersofthescience，tosimilarinquiries，difficultasitmaybetoprosecutethem，undersuchacomplicationofduties，professionalanddomestic。HonestPeach！humbleasisthyhome，andsimplethybearing，thouartanhonoureventothisassemblageofnoblesanddoctors：nay，more，whenweconsidereverything，thouartanhonourtohumannatureitself;forwhereistheheroismlikethatofvirtuous，intelligent，independentpoverty？Andsuchheroismisthine！"—CHAMBERS’EDIN。JOURN。，Nov。23，1844。
　　Mr。Peachhasbeensincerewardedinpartforhislonglaboursinthecauseofscience，byhavingbeenremovedtoamorelucrativepostonthenorthcoastofScotland;theearnest，itistobehoped，ofstillfurtherpromotion。
　　ImentionedjustnowSynapta;or，asMontagucalledit，Chirodota：
　　amuchbettername，and，Ithink，veryuselesslychanged;forChirodotaexpressesthepeculiarityofthebeast，whichconsistsin—startnot，reader—twelvehands，likehumanhands，whileSynaptaexpressesmerelyitspowerofclingingtothefingers，whichitpossessesincommonwithmanyotheranimals。Itis，atleast，abeastworthtalkingabout;asforfindingone，Ifearthatwehavenochanceofsuchgoodfortune。
　　ColonelMontagufoundthemheresomefortyyearsago;andafterhim，Mr。Alder，in1845。Ifoundhundredsofthem，butonlyonce，in1854afteraheavysouth—easterngale，washedupamongthegreatLutrariaeinacovenearGoodrington;butallmydredgingoutsidefailedtoprocureaspecimen—Mr。Alder，however，andMr。Cocks（whofindeverything，andwillatlastcertainlycatchMidgard，thegreatsea—serpent，asThordid，bybaitingforhimwithabull’shead），havedredgedthemingreatnumbers;theformer，atHelfordinCornwall，thelatteronthewestcoastofScotland。Itseems，however，tobeasouthernmonster，probablyaremnant，likethegreatcockle，oftheMediterraneanfauna;forMr。MacAndrewfindsthemplentifullyinVigoBay，andJ。M乴lerintheAdriatic，offTrieste。
　　Butwhatisitlike？Conceiveaveryfatshortearth—worm;notringed，though，liketheearth—worm，butsmoothandglossy，dappledwithdarkerspots，especiallyononeside，whichmaybetheupperone。Putrounditsmouthtwelvelittlearms，oneachahandwithfourraggedfingers，andonthebackofthehandastumpofathumb，andyouhaveSynaptaDigitata（PlatesIV。andV。，frommydrawingsoftheliveanimal）。Thesehandsitputsdowntoitsmouth，generallyinalternatepairs，buthowitobtainsitsfoodbythemisyetamystery，foritsintestinesarefilled，likeanearth—worm’s，withthemudinwhichitlives，andfromwhichitprobablyextracts（asdoestheearth—worm）allorganicmatters。
　　Youwillfinditsticktoyourfingersbythewholeskin，causing，ifyourhandbedelicate，atinglingsensation;andifyouexaminetheskinunderthemicroscope，youwillfindthecause。Thewholeskinisstuddedwithminuteglassanchors，somehangingfreelyfromthesurface，butmostimbeddedintheskin。Eachoftheseanchorsisjointedatitsrootintooneendofacuriouscribriformplate，—inplainEnglish，onepiercedlikeasieve，whichliesundertheskin，andremindsoneofthesimilarplatesintheskinoftheWhiteCucumaria，whichIwillshowyoupresently;andbothofthesewemustregardasthefirstrudimentsofanEchinoderm’soutsideskeleton，suchasintheSea—urchinscoversthewholebodyoftheanimal。（SeeonEchinusMillaris，p。89。）（7）Somewhatsimilaranchor—plates，fromaRedSeaspecies，SynaptaVittata，maybeseeninanycollectionofmicroscopicobjects。
　　Theanimal，whencaught，hasastrangehabitofself—destruction，contractingitsskinattwoorthreedifferentpoints，andwrithingtillitsnapsitselfinto"junks，"asthesailorswouldsay，andthendies。Myspecimens，onbreakingup，threwoutfromthewoundedpartlong"ovarianfilaments"（whatsoeverthosemaybe），similartothosethrownoutbymanyoftheSagartiananemones，especiallyS。parasitica。Beyondthis，IcantellyounothingaboutSynapta，andonlyaskyoutoconsideritshands，asaninstanceofthatfantasticplayofNaturewhichrepeats，infamilieswidelydifferent，organsofsimilarform，thoughperhapsofbynomeanssimilaruse;nay，sometimes（asinthosebeautifulclear—winghawk—mothswhichyou，astheyhoverroundtherhododendrons，mistakeforbumble—bees）repeatstheoutwardformofawholeanimal，fornoconceivablereasonsaveher—shallwenotsayhonestlyHis？—owngoodpleasure。
　　Buthereweareattheoldbankofboulders，theruinsofanantiquepierwhichthemonksofTorAbbeybuiltfortheirconvenience，whileTorquaywasbutaknotoffishinghutswithinalonelylimestonecove。Togettoit，though，wehavepassedmanyahiddentreasure;foreveryledgeoftheseflatNew—red—sandstonerocks，iftornupwiththecrowbar，disclosesinitscracksandcranniesnestsofstrangeformswhichshunthelightofday;
　　beautifulActiniaefillthetinycavernswithlivingflowers;greatPholades（PlateX。figs。3，4）borebyhundredsinthesofterstrata;andwhereverathinlayerofmuddysandintervenesbetweentwoslabs，longAnnelidwormsofquaintestformsandcolourshavetheirhorizontalburrows，amongthoseofthatcuriousandrareradiateanimal，theSpoonworm，（8）aneyelessbagaboutaninchlong，halfbluishgrey，halfpink，withastrangescallopedandwrinkledproboscisofsaffroncolour，whichserves，insomemysteriousway，softasitis，tocollectfood，andclearitsdarkpassagethroughtherock。
　　See，attheextremelow—watermark，wherethebroadolivefrondsoftheLaminariae，likefan—palms，droopandwavegracefullyintheretiringripples，agreatboulderwhichwillserveourpurpose。
　　Itsuppersideisawholeforestofsea—weeds，largeandsmall;andthatforest，ifyouexamineditclosely，asfullofinhabitantsasthoseoftheAmazonortheGambia。To"beat"thatdensecoverwouldbeanendlesstask：butontheunderside，wherenosea—
　　weedsgrow，weshallfindfullinviewenoughtooccupyustillthetidereturns。Fortheslab，see，issuchaoneassea—beastslovetohaunt。Itsweed—coveredsurfaceshowsthatthesurgehasnotshifteditforyearspast。Itliesonotherbouldersclearofsandandmud，sothatthereisnofearofdeadsea—weedhavinglodgedanddecayedunderit，destructivetoanimallife。Wecanseedarkcranniesandcavesbeneath;yettoonarrowtoallowthesurgetowashin，andkeepthesurfaceclean。ItwillbeafinemenagerieofNereus，ifwecanbutturnit。
　　Nowthecrowbariswellunderit;heave，andwithawill;andso，afterfiveminutes’tugging，propping，slipping，andsplashing，thebouldergraduallytipsover，andwerushgreedilyuponthespoil。
　　Amuddydrippingsurfaceitis，truly，fullofcracksandhollows，uninvitingenoughatfirstsight：letuslookitroundleisurely，toseeiftherearenotmaterialsenoughthereforanhour’slecture。
　　Thefirstobjectwhichstrikestheeyeisprobablyagroupofmilk—
　　whiteslugs，fromtwotosixincheslong，cuddlingsnuglytogether（PlateIX。fig。1）。Youtrytopullthemoff，andfindthattheygiveyousometrouble，suchafirmholdhavethedelicatewhitesuckingarms，whichfringeeachoftheirfiveedges。Youseeattheheadnothingbutayellowdimple;foreatingandbreathingaresuspendedtillthereturnoftide;butoncesettledinajarofsalt—water，eachwillprotrudealargechocolate—colouredhead，tippedwitharingoftenfeatherygills，lookingverymuchlikeaheadof"curledkale，"butoftheloveliestwhiteandprimrose;inthecentrewhereofliesperduamouthwithsturdyteeth—ifindeedthey，aswellasthewholeinsideofthebeast，havenotbeenlatelygotridof，andwhatyouseebenotamerebag，withoutintestineorotherorgan：butonlyforthetimebeing。Forhearit，worn—outepicures，andoldIndianswhobemoanyourlivers，thislittleHolothuriaknowsasecretwhich，ifhecouldtellit，youwouldbegladtobuyofhimforthousandssterling。Tohimbluepillandmuriaticacidaresuperfluous，andtravelstoGermanBrunnenawasteoftime。HappyHolothuria！whopossessesreallythesecretofeverlastingyouth，whichancientfablebestowedontheserpentandtheeagle。Forwhenhisteethache，orhisdigestiveorganstroublehim，allhehastodoisjusttocastupforthwithhisentireinside，and，faisantmaigreforamonthorso，growafreshset，andtheneatawayasmerrilyasever。Hisname，ifyouwishtoconsultsotriumphantahygeist，isCucumariaPentactes：buthehasmanyastoutcousinroundtheScotchcoast，whoknowstheantibiliouspanaceaaswellashe，andsubmits，amongthenorthernfishermen，totheratherrudeandundeservednameofsea—puddings;oneofwhichgrowsinShetlandtotheenormouslengthofthreefeet，rivallingtherehishugecongeners，whodisplaytheirexquisiteplumesoneverytropiccoralreef。（9）
　　Next，whatarethosebrightlittlebuds，likesalmon—colouredBanksiaroseshalfexpanded，sittingcloselyonthestone？Touchthem;thesoftpartisretracted，andtheorangefloweroffleshistransformedintoapalepinkflowerofstone。ThatistheMadrepore，CaryophylliaSmithii（PlateV。fig。2）;oneofoursouthcoastrarities：andsee，onthelipofthelastone，whichwehavecarefullyscoopedoffwiththechisel，twolittlepinktowersofstone，delicatelystriated;dropthemintothissmallbottleofsea—water，andfromthetopofeachtowerissueseveryhalf—second—whatshallwecallit？—ahandoranetoffinesthairs，clutchingatsomethinginvisibletoourgrossersense。ThatisthePyrgoma，parasiticonly（asfarasweknow）onthelipofthissamerareMadrepore;alittle"cirrhipod，"thecousinofthosetinybarnacleswhichrougheneveryrock（alargersortwhereofIshowedyouontheTurritella），andofthoselargeronesalsowhoburrowinthethickhideofthewhale，and，borneaboutuponhismightysides，throwouttheirtinycastingnets，asthisPyrgomadoes，tocatcheverypassinganimalcule，andsweepthemintothejawsconcealedwithinitsshell。Andthiscreature，rootedtoonespotthroughlifeanddeath，wasinitsinfancyafreeswimminganimal，hoveringfromplacetoplaceupondelicateciliae，till，havingsownitswildoats，itsettleddowninlife，builtitselfagoodstonehouse，andbecamealandowner，orratheraglebaeadscriptus，foreverandaday。Mysteriousdestiny！—yetnotsomysteriousasthatofthefreemedusoidyoungofeverypolypeandcoral，whichendsasarootedtreeofhornorstone，andseemstotheeyeofsensuousfancytohaveliterallydegeneratedintoavegetable。OfthemyoumustreadforyourselfinMr。Gosse’sbook;inthemeanwhileheshalltellyousomethingofthebeautifulMadreporesthemselves。Hisdescription，（10）byfarthebestyetpublished，shouldbereadinfull;wemustcontentourselveswithextracts。
　　"DoubtlessyouarefamiliarwiththestonyskeletonofourMadrepore，asitappearsinmuseums。Itconsistsofanumberofthincalcareousplatesstandingupedgewise，andarrangedinaradiatingmannerroundalowcentre。Alittlebelowthemargintheirindividualityislostinthedepositionofroughcalcareousmatter……Thegeneralformismoreorlesscylindrical，commonlywiderattopthanjustabovethebottom……Thisisbuttheskeleton;andthoughitisaveryprettyobject，thosewhoareacquaintedwithitalone，canformbutaverypoorideaofthebeautyofthelivinganimal……Letit，afterbeingtornfromtherock，recoveritsequanimity;thenyouwillseeapellucidgelatinousfleshemergingfrombetweentheplates，andlittleexquisitelyformedandcolouredtentacula，withwhiteclubbedtipsfringingthesidesofthecup—shapedcavityinthecentre，acrosswhichstretchestheovaldiscmarkedwithastarofsomerichandbrilliantcolour，surroundingthecentralmouth，aslitwithwhitecrenatedlips，liketheorificeofoneofthoseelegantcowryshellswhichweputuponourmantelpieces。Themouthisalwaysmoreorlessprominent，andcanbeprotrudedandexpandedtoanastonishingextent。Thespacesurroundingthelipsiscommonlyfawncolour，orrichchestnut—brown;thestarorvandykedcirclerichred，palevermilion，andsometimesthemostbrilliantemeraldgreen，asbrilliantasthegorgetofahumming—bird。"
　　Andwhatdoesthisexquisitelydelicatecreaturedowithitsprettymouth？Alasforfact！Itsipsnohoney—dew，orfruitsfromparadise。—"Iputaminutespider，aslargeasapin’shead，intothewater，pushingitdowntothecoral。Theinstantittouchedthetipofatentacle，itadhered，andwasdrawninwiththesurroundingtentaclesbetweentheplates。WithalensIsawthesmallmouthslowlyopen，andmoveovertothatside，thelipsgapingunsymmetrically;whilewithamovementasimperceptibleasthatofthehourhandofawatch，thetinypreywascarriedalongbetweentheplatestothecornerofthemouth。Themouth，however，movedmost，andatlengthreachedtheedgesoftheplates，graduallyclosedupontheinsect，andthenreturnedtoitsusualplaceinthecentre。"
　　Mr。Gossenexttriedthefairyofthewalkingmouthwithahouse—
　　fly，whoescapedonlybyhardfighting;andatlastthegentlecreature，afterswallowinganddisgorgingvariouslargepiecesofshell—fish，foundviandstoitstastein"theleanofcookedmeatandportionsofearthworms，"fillinguptheintervalsbyaperpetualdessertofmicroscopicanimalcules，whirledintothatlovelyavernus，itsmouth，bythecurrentsofthedelicateciliaewhichclotheeverytentacle。Thefactis，thattheMadrepore，likethoseglorioussea—anemoneswhoselivingflowersstudeverypool，isbyprofessionascavengerandafeederoncarrion;andbeingasusefulasheisbeautiful，reallycomesundertherulewhichheseemsatfirsttobreak，thathandsomeiswhohandsomedoes。
　　AnotherspeciesofMadrepore（11）wasdiscoveredonourDevoncoastbyMr。Gosse，moregaudy，thoughnotsodelicateinhueasourCaryophyllia。Mr。Gosse’slocality，forthisandnumberlessothercuriosities，isIlfracombe，onthenorthcoastofDevon。MyspecimenscamefromLundyIsland，inthemouthoftheBristolChannel，ormoreproperlyfromthatcurious"RatIsland"tothesouthofit，wherestilllingerstheblacklong—tailedEnglishrat，exterminatedeverywhereelsebyhissturdierbrowncousinoftheHanoveriandynasty。
　　Look，now，atthesetinysaucersofthethinnestivory，thelargestnotbiggerthanasilverthreepence，whichcontainintheircentresamilk—whitecrustofstone，pierced，asyouseeunderthemagnifier，intoathousandcells，eachwithitslivingarchitectwithin。Herearetwokinds：inonethetubularcellsradiatefromthecentre，givingittheappearanceofatinycompoundflower，daisyorgroundsel;intheothertheyarecrossedwithwavinggrooves，givingthewholeapeculiarfrettedlook，evenmorebeautifulthanthatoftheformerspecies。TheyareTubuliporapatinaandTubuliporahispida;—andstay—breakoffthattinyroughredwart，andlookatitscellsalsounderthemagnifier：itisCelleporapumicosa;andnow，withtheMadrepore，youholdinyourhandtheprincipal，atleastthecommonest，Britishtypesofthosefamedcoralinsects，whichinthetropicsarethearchitectsofcontinents，andtheconquerorsoftheoceansurge。Alltheworld，sincethepublicationofDarwin’sdelightful"VoyageoftheBeagle，"’andofWilliams’"MissionaryEnterprises，"knows，oroughttoknow，enoughaboutthem：forthosewhodonot，thereareafewpagesinthebeginningofDr。Landsborough’s"BritishZoophytes，"wellworthperusal。
　　Thereareafewothertruecelleporecoralsroundthecoast。Thelargestofall，Cervicornis，maybedredgedafewmilesoutsideontheExmouthbank，withafewmoreTubulipores：butalltinythings，thelingeringand，asitwere，expiringremnantsofthatgreatcoral—worldwhich，throughtheabysmaldepthsofpastages，formedhereinBritainourlimestonehills，storingupforgenerationsyetunbornthematerialsofagricultureandarchitecture。Inexpressiblyinteresting，evensolemn，tothosewhowillthink，isthesightofthosepunyparasiteswhich，asitwere，connecttheagesandtheaeons：yetnotsosolemnandfullofmeaningasthattinyrelicofanolderworld，thelittlepear—
　　shapedTurbinolia（cousinoftheMadreporesandSea—anemones），foundfossilintheSuffolkCrag，andyetstilllingeringhereandtherealiveinthedeepwaterofScillyandthewestcoastofIreland，possessorofapedigreewhichdates，perhaps，fromagesbeforethedayinwhichitwassaid，"Letusmakemaninourimage，afterourlikeness。"Tothinkthatthewholehumanrace，itsjoysanditssorrows，itsvirtuesanditssins，itsaspirationsanditsfailures，hasbeenrushingoutofeternityandintoeternityagain，asArjoonintheBhagavadGitabeheldtheraceofmenissuingfromKreeshna’sflamingmouth，andswallowedupinitagain，"asthecrowdsofinsectsswarmintotheflame，asthehomelessstreamsleapdownintotheoceanbed，"inaneverlastingheart—pulsewhosebloodislivingsouls—andallthatwhile，andagesbeforethatmysterybegan，thathumblecoral，unnoticedonthedarksea—floor，hasbeen"continuingasitwasatthebeginning，"andfulfilling"thelawwhichcannotbebroken，"whileracesanddynastiesandgenerationshavebeen"Playingsuchfantastictricksbeforehighheaven，Asmaketheangelsweep。"
　　Yes;itisthisvisionoftheawfulpermanenceandperfectionofthenaturalworld，besidethewildfluxandconfusion，themadstruggles，thedespairingcriesoftheworldofspiritswhichmanhasdefiledbysin，whichwouldatmomentscrushthenaturalist’sheart，andmakehisbrainswimwithterror，wereitnotthathecanseebyfaith，throughalltheabyssesandtheages，notmerely"Hands，Fromoutthedarkness，shapingman;"
　　butabovethemalivinglovingcountenance，humanandyetDivine;
　　andcanhearavoicewhichsaidatfirst，"Letusmakemaninourimage;"andhathsaidsincethen，andsaysforeverandforever，"Lo，Iamwithyoualway，eventotheendoftheworld。"
　　Butnow，friend，wholistenest，perhapsinstructed，andatleastamused—if，asProfessorHarveywellsays，thesimpleranimalsrepresent，asinaglass，thescatteredorgansofthehigherraces，whichofyourorgansisrepresentedbythat"sca’dman’shead，"
　　whichtheDevonchildrenmoregracefully，yetwithlessadherencetoplainlikeness，call"mermaid’shead，"（12）whichwepickedupjustnowonPaigntonSands？Orwhich，again，byitsmorebeautifullittlecongener，（13）fiveorsixofwhichareadheringtightlytotheslabbeforeus，aballcoveredwithdelicatespinesoflilacandgreen，andstuckover（cunningfellows！）withstripesofdeadsea—weedtoserveasimprovisedparasols？Onecannotsaythatinhimwehavethefirsttypeofthehumanskull：fortheresemblance，quaintasitis，isonlysensuousandaccidental，（inthelogicaluseofthatterm，）andnothomological，I。E。alowermanifestationofthesameidea。Yethowisonetemptedtosay，thatthiswasNature’sfirstandlowestattemptatthatuseofhollowglobesofmineralforprotectingsoftfleshyparts，whichsheafterwardsdevelopedtosuchperfectionintheskullsofvertebrateanimals！Buteventhatconceit，prettyasitsounds，willnotholdgood;forthoughRadiatessimilartothesewereamongtheearliesttenantsoftheabyss，yetasearlyastheirtime，perhapsevenbeforethem，hadbeenconceivedandactualized，inthesharks，andinMr。HughMiller’spetstheoldredsandstonefishes，thatverytruevertebrateskullandbrain，ofwhichthisisameremockery。（14）Herethewholeanimal，withhisextraordinaryfeedingmill，（forneitherteethnorjawsisafitwordforit，）isenclosedwithinanever—growinglimestonecastle，tothearchitectureofwhichtheEddystoneandtheCrystalPalacearebunglingheaps;withoutarmsorlegs，eyesorears，andyetcapable，inspiteofhisperpetualimprisonment，ofwalking，feeding，andbreeding，doubtitnot，merrilyenough。Butthisresulthasbeenattainedattheexpenseofacomplicationofstructure，whichhasbaffledallhumananalysisandresearchintofinalcauses。Asmuchconcerningthismostmiraculousoffamiliesasisneedfultobeknown，andtentimesmorethanyouarelikelytounderstand，maybereadinHarvey’s"Sea—SideBook，"pp。142—
　　148，—pagesfromwhichyouwillprobablyarisewithasenseoftheinfinityandcomplexityofNature，eveninwhatwearepleasedtocallher"lower"forms，andthesimplestand，asitwere，easiestformsoflife。ConceiveaCrystalPalace，（formeredifferenceinsize，asboththenaturalistandthemetaphysicianknow，hasnothingtodowiththewonder，）whereofeachseparatejoist，girder，andpanegrowscontinuallywithoutalteringtheshapeofthewhole;andyouhaveconceivedonlyoneofthemiraclesembodiedinthatlittlesea—egg，whichtheCreatorhas，asitwere，tojustifytomanHisownimmutability，furnishedwithashellcapableofenduringfossilforcountlessages，thatwemayconfessHimtohavebeenasgreatwhenfirstHisSpiritbroodedonthedeep，asHeisnowandwillbethroughallworldstocome。
　　Butwemustmakehaste;forthetideisrisingfast，andourstonewillberestoredtoitselevenhours’bath，longbeforewehavetalkedoverhalfthewonderswhichitholds。Lookthough，ereyouretreat，atoneortwomore。
　　Whatisthatlittlebrownthingwhomyouhavejusttakenofftherocktowhichitadheredsostoutlybyhissucking—foot？Alimpet？
　　Notatall：heisofquiteadifferentfamilyandstructure;but，onthewhole，alimpet—likeshellwouldsuithimwellenough，sohehadonegivenhim：nevertheless，owingtocertainanatomicalpeculiarities，heneededoneaperturemorethanalimpet;soone，ifyouwillexamine，hasbeengivenhimatthetopofhisshell。
　　（15）Thisisoneinstanceamongathousandofthewayinwhichascientificknowledgeofobjectsmustnotobey，butruncounterto，theimpressionsofsense;andofacustominnaturewhichmakesthiscautionsonecessary，namely，therepetitionofthesameform，slightlymodified，intotallydifferentanimals，sometimesasiftoavoidwaste，（forwhyshouldnotthesameconceptionbeusedintwodifferentcases，ifitwillsuitinboth？）andsometimes（moremarvellousbyfar）whenanorgan，fullydevelopedandusefulinonespecies，appearsinacognatespeciesbutfeeble，useless，and，asitwere，abortive;andgradually，inspeciesstillfartherremoved，diesoutaltogether;placedthere，itwouldseem，atfirstsight，merelytokeepupthefamilylikeness。Iamhalfjesting;thatcannotbetheonlyreason，perhapsnotthereasonatall;butthefactisoneofthemostcurious，andnotoriousalso，incomparativeanatomy。
　　Look，again，atthosesea—slugs。One，somethreeincheslong，ofabrightlemon—yellow，cloudedwithpurple;anotherofadingygrey;
　　（16）anotherexquisitelittlecreatureofapearlyFrenchWhite，（17）furredalloverthebackwithwhatseemarms，butarereallygills，ofringedwhiteandgreyandblack。Putthatyellowoneintowater，andfromhishead，abovetheeyes，arisetwoserratedhorns，whilefromtheafter—partofhisbackspringsacircularPrince—of—Wales’s—featherofgills，—theyarealmostexactlylikethosewhichwesawjustnowinthewhiteCucumaria。Yes;hereisanotherinstanceofthesamecustomofrepetition。TheCucumariaisalowradiateanimal—thesea—slugafarhighermollusc;andeveryorganwithinhimisformedonadifferenttype;asindeedarethoseseeminglyidenticalgills，ifyoucometoexaminethemunderthemicroscope，havingtooxygenatefluidsofaverydifferentandmorecomplicatedkind;and，moreover，theCucumaria’sgillswereputroundhismouth，theDoris’sfeathersroundtheotherextremity;thatgreyEolis’s，again，aresimpleclubs，scatteredoverhiswholeback，andineachofhisnudibranchcongenersthesesamegillstakesomenewandfantasticform;inMelibaeathoseclubsarecoveredwithwarts;inScyllaea，withtuftedbouquets;inthebeautifulAntiopatheyaretransparentbags;andinmanyotherEnglishspeciestheytakeeveryconceivableformofleaf，tree，flower，andbranch，bedeckedwitheverycolouroftherainbow，asyoumayseethemdepictedinMessrs。AlderandHancock’sunrivalledMonographontheNudibranchMollusca。
　　Andnow，worshipperoffinalcausesandthemereusefulinnature，answerbutonequestion，—Whythisprodigalvariety？AlltheseNudibranchsliveinmuchthesameway：whywouldnotthesamemouldhavedoneforthemall？Andwhy，again，（forwemustpushtheargumentalittlefurther，）whyhavenotallthebutterflies，atleastallwhofeedonthesameplant，thesamemarkings？Ofallunfathomabletriumphsofdesign，（wecanonlyexpressourselvesthus，forhonestinduction，asPaleysowellteaches，allowsustoascribesuchresultsonlytothedesignofsomepersonalwillandmind，）whatsurpassesthatbywhichthescalesonabutterfly’swingarearrangedtoproduceacertainpatternofartisticbeautybeyondallpainter’sskill？Whatawasteofpower，onanyutilitariantheoryofnature！Andoncemore，whyarethosestrangemicroscopicatomies，theDiatomaceaeandInfusoria，whichfilleverystagnantpool;whichfringeeverybranchofsea—weed;whichformbankshundredsofmileslongontheArcticsea—floor，andthestrataofwholemoorlands;whichpervadeinmillionsthemassofeveryiceberg，andfloataloftincountlessswarmsamidthecloudsofthevolcanicdust;—whyaretheirtinyshellsofflintasfantasticallyvariousintheirquaintmathematicalsymmetry，astheyarecountlessbeyondthewildestdreamsofthePoet？Mysteryinexplicableontheconceitednotionwhich，makingmanforsooththecentreoftheuniverse，darestobelievethatthisvarietyofformshasexistedforcountlessagesinabysmalsea—depthsanduntroddenforests，onlythatsomefewindividualsoftheWesternracesmight，intheselatterdays，atlastdiscoverandadmireacornerhereandthereoftheboundlessrealmsofbeauty。Inexplicable，truly，ifmanbethecentreandtheobjectoftheirexistence;explicableenoughtohimwhobelievesthatGodhascreatedallthingsforHimself，andrejoicesinHisownhandiwork，andthatthematerialuniverseis，asthewisemansays，"AplatformwhereonHisEternalSpiritsportsandmakesmelody。"Ofalltheblessingswhichthestudyofnaturebringstothepatientobserver，letnone，perhaps，beclassedhigherthanthis：thatthefurtherheentersintothosefairygardensoflifeandbirth，whichSpensersawanddescribedinhisgreatpoem，themorehelearnstheawfulandyetmostcomfortabletruth，thattheydonotbelongtohim，buttoOnegreater，wiser，lovelierthanhe;andashestands，silentwithawe，amidthepompofNature’sever—busyrest，hears，asofold，"TheWordoftheLordGodwalkingamongthetreesofthegardeninthecooloftheday。"
　　Onesightmore，andwehavedone。Ihadsomethingtosay，hadtimepermitted，ontheludicrouselementwhichappearshereandthereinnature。Thereareanimals，likemonkeysandcrabs，whichseemmadetobelaughedat;bythoseatleastwhopossessthatmostindefinableoffaculties，thesenseoftheridiculous。Aslongasmanpossessesmusclesespeciallyformedtoenablehimtolaugh，wehavenorighttosuppose（withsome）thatlaughterisanaccidentofourfallennature;ortofind（withothers）theprimarycauseoftheridiculousintheperceptionofunfitnessordisharmony。Andyetweshrink（whetherrightlyorwrongly，wecanhardlytell）fromattributingasenseoftheludicroustotheCreatoroftheseforms。
　　Itmaybeaweaknessonmypart;atleastIwillhopeitisareverentone：buttillwecanfindsomethingcorrespondingtowhatweconceiveoftheDivineMindinanyclassofphenomena，itisperhapsbetternottotalkaboutthematall，butobserveastoic"epoche，"waitingformorelight，andyetconfessingthatourownlaughterisuncontrollable，andthereforewehopenotunworthyofus，atmanyastrangecreatureandstrangedoingwhichwemeet，fromthehighestapetothelowestpolype。
　　But，inthemeanwhile，thereareanimalsinwhichresultssostrange，fantastic，evenseeminglyhorrible，areproduced，thatfallenmanmaybepardoned，ifheshrinksfromthemindisgust。
　　That，atleast，mustbeaconsequenceofourownwrongstate;foreverythingisbeautifulandperfectinitsplace。Itmaybeanswered，"Yes，initsplace;butitsplaceisnotyours。Youhadnobusinesstolookatit，andmustpaythepenaltyforintermeddling。"Idoubtthatanswer;forsurely，ifmanhavelibertytodoanything，hehaslibertytosearchoutfreelyhisheavenlyFather’sworks;andyeteveryoneseemstohavehisantipathicanimal;andIknowonebredfromhischildhoodtozoologybylandandsea，andboldinasserting，andhonestinfeeling，thatallwithoutexceptionisbeautiful，whoyetcannot，afterhandlingandpettingandadmiringalldaylongeveryuncouthandvenomousbeast，avoidaparoxysmofhorroratthesightofthecommonhouse—spider。Atallevents，whetherwewereintrudingornot，inturningthisstone，wemustpayafineforhavingdoneso;