THE LIFE OF THE SEA-SHORE. 151 
young or larval forms usually only to be found at certain 
seasons of the year. These are often exceedingly minute, 
and only to be seen with a lens, but others are quite visible 
to the unaided eye. Of the larger forms the young fish are 
perhaps the most interesting. During the summer months 
young lumpsuckers are always to be found, and are both 
prettier and more active than the adults. These are 
prettily marked with a light streak of colour behind the 
eye, while the end of the tail fin is perfectly transparent so 
that the body has a curiously truncated appearance. They 
swim about actively enough, but-every now and then attach 
themselves by the sucker and then tuck their tails around 
their large heads in a way which makes them difficult to 
pick out among the weed. The effect is very curious. 
One may watch a pool for some time, and note the little fish 
swimming actively about, then suddenly they .seem to 
disappear, for in the attached resting position with the 
flexed tail they are very difficult to make out. The rock 
pools in summer contain also shoals of young fish of other 
species, often perfectly colourless and transparent so that 
the heart can be seen quite clearly and its beating watched. 
Then in their season one finds the young of the shore crabs, 
curious little large-eyed, long-tailed creatures which swim 
with their tails as did the ancestors of the crabs. Quite 
as curious are the tadpole-like larve of the sessile sea- 
squirts, and hosts of other forms of great interest to those 
interested in problems of origins. It is, however, impossible 
to discuss these in detail to-night, and if I have succeeded 
in any degree in arousing your interest in the inhabitants 
of the crowded shore area, I can only urge you in con- 
clusion to allow that interest to induce you to make actual 
excursions to the shore, and there you will find much more 
than this slight sketch can suggest, of pleasure and in- 
struction. 
