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day, may mysteriously take on the repulsive appearance 

 of death to-morrow. But here where twice each day the 

 whole Atlantic lifts her waters, enfolds this nursling sea, 

 washes its sides with sparkling water, and resupplies its 

 wants with nourishing streams from her own bosom, one 

 always expects to find vigorous life, refreshing to look 

 upon. Nor is the expectation disappointed. Bright col- 

 ored shells pave the floor of the basin with a rich mosaic. 

 Sea anemones cover the roughness of the rocks with their 

 base, unfold their soft tints, and wave their tufted crown 

 of tentacles gracefully to and fro. Branching sea-sponges 

 spring from the interstices of the rocks. The rays of the 

 star-fish peep through the sea-plants, beneath whose 

 growth lie many marine animals in partial concealment. 

 Through the meshes of the weeds one can see the hermit- 

 crabs dragging their second-hand houses across the minia- 

 ture highways of this marine township, reminding one of 

 the frequent migrations of the ancient buildings of Salem 

 when they fall into the hands of speculators. Now and 

 then a crab bustles actively across an open space, then 

 disappears beneath a thick growth of conferva?, which he 

 agitates by his continued movements, and makes you 

 think that the concealed regions of this watery district 

 must be even more densely populated than that which lies 

 open to the sun. 



The party spent much time in studying this beautiful 

 assemblage of representatives of ocean's inhabitants 

 which here in so rare a manner presented themselves for 

 examination. 



Some of the residents of East Gloucester whose means 

 enabled them to give visible form to the ideas of beauty 

 which such natural features must suggest, invited some of 

 our party to visit their residences along the shore, where 

 the combination of tastefully kept grounds about a coun- 



