Ixxviii EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



in ambufh among the ftones, w here they prefent to view 

 only the extremities of their horns and their great claws. 



Had it been in my power, I would have ftudied the con- 

 trafts which thofe innumerable families form on the (lime 

 and on the rocks, where their fhells fparkle with the fires of 

 Aurora^ and with the luftre of purple and of the lapis-lazuU. 

 I would have defcribed thofe fea-covered regions, clothed 

 with plants of an infinite variety of forms, which never 

 receive the rays of the Sun but through the medium 

 of water. Their very valleys, where the currents gufli 

 with the rapidity of fluices, produce plants elaftic, and per- 

 forated, fuch as the leaves of the fea-peacock, through the 

 apertures of which the waves pafs as through a fieve. I 

 would have reprefented their rocks, rifing from the depth 

 oftheabyfs, like mounds incapable of being moved, with 

 cavernous fides, prefenting briftly beds of madrépores, and 

 feftooned with moveable garlands oïfucusy alga-marinuy and 

 other fea-weeds of all colours, which ferve as fhelter, and 

 bedding, for the calves and horfes of the Sea. 



During florms, their dark bafcs are covered with clouds of 

 a phofphoric light ; and founds unutterable, ifluing from their 

 untraceable mazes, invite to the prey the filent legions of the 

 inhabitants of the mighty Deep. I would have endeavoured 

 to force my way into thofe palaces of the Nereids, in order to 

 unveil myfterics hitherto concealed from the human eye, and 

 to contemplate from afar the foolfteps of that infinite Wis- 

 dom which are imprcflcd on the oozy bottom of the Ocean. 

 But rcfearches fo laborious, though fo delightful \ of fuch 

 importance to our fiiheries, and fo fertile of materials for 

 natural Hiftory, far tranfcend the fortunes and the exertions 

 of a Solitary. 



I have 



