376 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



of the shell and its mode of growth ; but that we should 

 pause to consider its relation to the great forces of the 

 universe. You may possibly look upon that phrase as 

 mere rhetoric ; but it is of strictly scientific sobriety ; 

 and you will admit it to be so, on learning that the 

 mighty ocean-currents mainly depend on this said mol- 

 lusc-shell. Strange, yet true. Were there no secreting 

 animals in the sea capable of removing from the water 

 its surplus lime, the stormy winds might agitate its 

 surface, and rouse its waves like troops of roaring lions 

 shaking back then* manes of spray ; but there would 

 be no strong currents with beneficent efi'ect ; and in a 

 little while the ocean would become a huge salt-lake. 



Let us rest from our hot hammering, and painful 

 stoof)ing under ledges, and let us enjoy a few minutes' 

 repose on this reef, solitary amid the waves, and distant 

 from the shore. Pleasant the breeze, pleasant the 

 gentle cadence of the water at our feet, pleasant the 

 sight of that snowy mass of cloud which lazily rolls 

 landwards. It rose from the surface of this brilliant, 

 buoyant, volitant sea in airy bubbles of vapour, and 

 is now travelling towards those green cornfields over 

 which the lark is poised in melody. If the cloud 

 should there meet a current of cold air, it will drop 

 gently down as rain. This rain will make its way 

 through the earth to rivulets and rivers, till it finally 

 returns once more to the parent-bed of ocean ; but on 

 its way it wiU have washed with it various salts, 

 which it will dissolve and carry to the sea, thus adding 

 to the already saturated sea water an amount of solid 



