Social Life in the SaJt-Water JVorld 29 



manner of animals are to be found; for the tidal region 

 between the low-water neaps and the low-water springs 

 is inhabited by a far more numerous species than any 

 other part of the seashore. All sorts of fishes, crus- 

 taceans, mollusks, worms, etc., will be found In hiding 

 here waiting to be covered by the next tide. For the 

 most part these will be found beneath the stones, in the 

 ground, and, In the case of anemones and certain other 

 low forms, attached to the under surfaces of the stones 

 themselves. Living seaweeds are also in abundance, 

 and in their wet fronds are sheltered minute creatures 

 whose strange form and structure are to be revealed 

 only by the microscope. 



There is, furthermore, a conspicuous abundance of 

 the larger animals of the shore. LImulus, the horse- 

 shoe crab, can be seen plowing his way through the 

 mud. Around about the molelike creature the soft 

 ground Is pitted with innumerable holes of about the 

 diameter of an earthworm's burrow. Geyserlike jets 

 of water ejected from various orifices indicate the 

 presence of the soft-shelled clam {Mya arenarea). 

 Periwinkles and other snails are here, there, and every- 

 where crawling over the surface of the mud, leaving In 

 their trails their familiar furrows. Cancer, too — the 

 rock crab, so miscalled — we will see; half buried, but 

 on the alert, it awaits with its dangerous-looking, bone- 

 crushing forceps in readiness to pounce upon some 

 smaller passer-by. 



To enlarge upon the wealth of living forms found 

 here would be wearisome. Yet the most casual ref- 

 erence would be incomplete without mention of the 

 mussels. The extensive black beds of these mollusks 



