24 
numerous round cells found in the inter-tidal chalk are made by 
a boring bivalve (Pholas dactylus). It is abundant near low 
tide, and is nearly white and richly sculptured on the outside. 
It is edible, and greatly esteemed on the Mediterranean shores, 
where it commands a high price. The late Professor Leach 
highly praises it for fine flavour and delicacy when cooked. 
Among the rarer molluscs are two species of Chiton. Rare 
on the chalk shores, they are more common on the northern 
coasts. All the above are inhabitants of temperate seas. The 
limpet is not found north of Scandinavia. The average winter 
temperature of the sea around the British coasts is from 40° to 
45°, The inter-tidal mollusca are incapable of resisting severe 
frosts. The great frost of the winter 1854-55 destroyed the 
greater part of them from the South-West of England to the 
Moray Firth in Scotland. The next zone, Oft. to 100ft., is 
inhabited by mollusca and fish that live only under sea water. 
There is only one species of star fish found in Brighton /( Asterias 
rubens). It is fairly common in the late spring and summer at 
very low tide, or thrown on the beach by storms. The starfish, 
unlike the limpet and barnacle, is incapable of living out of its 
habitat,—sea water. Immersion in fresh water causes instan- 
taneous death. The brittle star fish, which has the power of break- 
ing its limbs, is preserved by putting it into fresh water. From 
the classic authors of Greece and Rome the star fish has had a 
bad name for burning, stinging and poisonous qualities. Sir 
Thomas Browne, of Norwich, in his “ Vulgar Errors,” does not 
disprove the popular error. Our star fish is perfectly harmless. 
The bad reputation survives in the local names, as “ The Devil’s 
Hand,” ‘The Devil’s Fingers.’’ Science is a plant of slow 
growth in the popular mind. 
The crab and lobster, flounder and haddock are well-known 
inhabitants of shallow water. 
The molluscs Trochus and Mactra are found at a depth of 
a 50ft. to 100ft. After storms the shells are found on the 
each. 
The next zone is 100ft. to 800ft., the latter the limit of 
marine vegetation. The cod (Gadus morhua) is sparingly found 
in the Brighton sea. The cod is a rather widely distributed fish 
around the British coasts, most prolific on the northern areas. 
The ling (Lota malva) has a still more northern zone than the 
cod, and frequents deeper water. The cod and ling fishing is a 
large industry in the North of England and Scotland. The 
next zone, 300ft. to 600ft., is under the limit of marine vegeta- 
tion ; consequently, all the inhabitants are carnivorous. Light 
ceases to penetrate below this zone.* A decided change takes 
place in the size of the eyes of those fish that frequent the lower 
* Challenger, vol. i., p. 40. 
