REASONS OF HIDDEN THINGS. 37 



tenths of its linman occupants. "VYe found it snugly 

 lodged in small cavities on the under sides of the 

 loose-lying stones, which, however, it was assuredly 

 innocent of having excavated. One more : the elegant 

 Cyclostome ( Cyclostoma elegans) was likewise nume- 

 rous, perhaps the most interesting of all. The late 

 warm rains had drawn it from its winter-quarters, and 

 it was now crawling by scores over the twigs and 

 leaves, with its spiral shelly operculum carried behind. 

 The mode in which this pretty mollusk proceeds is 

 very curious : for the under-surface of the foot, which 

 is long, is divided by a deep fissm'e into two parallel 

 ribbons, which take hold of the twig alternately, one 

 portion making good its hold while the other is 

 advanced in turn. 



But the rain at length began to come down in 

 earnest, and as om- scientific zeal had been but poorly 

 supported by success, it gave in ; and, succumbing to 

 the storm, we retreated to the cabin of the steamer, 

 which soon disgorged us dripping on Weymouth Quay. 



THE BEOAD-CLAW. 



A very learned zoologist and very charming writer, 

 for whose writings I entertain the highest respect, 

 says : — " It is folly and vanity to attempt to account 

 for all facts in natm'e, or to pretend to say why the 

 Great Creator made this thing, and why He made that, 

 and to discover in every creature a reason for its pecu- 

 liar organization. It is but another form of the same 

 vanity, having satisfied itself of the discoveries it has 

 made, to pretend to praise the All-wise Maker's 

 wisdom in so organizing his creatures. That God is 



