60 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



to scramble across broken and fucus-covered rocks. 

 I found my early habits of sure-footed mountain 

 climbing of the greatest service to me on these oc- 

 casions. I generally achieved the most glorious 

 success in these awkward emergencies, and my 

 humble companions appeared not a little surprised 

 to see a gentleman cross their sharp-pointed rocks 

 and slippery inclines with the quickness and security 

 that I displayed. As soon as I reached the water's 

 edge, I began to roll away the stones ; and as it was 

 generally the largest which served as lurking places 

 for the more curious animals, I had to employ all 

 my strength in this work. The epidermis of my 

 hands was very soon Avorn off against the small 

 Balani, which covered the rocks, and converted them 

 into living rasps. After two days' work it had be- 

 come so exceedingly thin, that the slightest contact 

 was productive of pain. I then directed my eiforts 

 to the sand, of which I am sure I must have turned 

 up some hundred cartloads. Two iron shovels, made 

 by the island smiths, were twisted and broken in 

 these explorations. The third stood the test, but 

 then about ten pounds of iron had been employed in 

 fabricating its broad spatula, terminating in a steel 

 point, and attached to a handle half an inch in thick- 

 ness. Although this instrument is rather heavy, it 

 has been of great use to me, and I recommend it to 

 all naturalists who purpose exploring the coast. 



Violent exercise on the sea-side is probably fully 

 as bracing and conducive to the acquisition of 

 strength as the games of the Circus or a dip in the 

 Eurotas ; at all events I returned from these excur- 



