108 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



masses of weed thrown up at the same time, also 

 covered with Polypes and ova. We departed with the 

 feelings of men who have just heard of a legacy. Next 

 morning I found the treasures greater than our expec- 

 tation ; not only were there thousands of ova, but scores 

 of delicate and tiny EoHds of different species were 

 found floating in the water, or crawling among the 

 Pol}^es. It took hours to remove these delicate crea- 

 tures into separate vases and bottles, and then to con- 

 template them with hungry enthusiasm — which you 

 wiU appreciate if you have been ever fascinated by the 

 study of Development, and suddenly seen abundant 

 material within reach ; or, if you have been anxious to 

 solve some problem which only abundant observation 

 could help you to solve. I was troubled about the 

 respiration of the Eolis, not feeling at all satisfied with 

 what is taught in the schools ; and here were more 

 Eolids thrown into my hands than most men ever see 

 in a lifetime. 



The Eolis (Plate II., fig. 1) is a sea-slug, but in sj^ite 

 of this ill-sounding name, the sea has few creatures 

 more elegant in form, more exquisite in colour. In size 

 it ranges from one-tenth of an inch to three inches in 

 length. The commonest and least handsome species, 

 E. impillosa, is about an inch or an inch and a half 

 long, the back being densely studded with slate- 

 coloured club-like projections, called branchial papillae, 

 so like in colour to the rock it crawls over, that often 

 only an experienced eye can detect it. The more 

 elegant species, such as Eolis pellucida or elegans, or 



