176 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
Probably among the inhabitants of these groups there exist 
sentiments of brotherhood utterly unknown to us, and of the 
intimacy of which we can form no idea. Since that which is 
digested by one member of the family is, to a certain degree, 
beneficial to all, ought there not then to be between the different 
individuals, a kind of strong moral bond as well as a direct physio- 
logical communication? Such colonies as these cannot have the 
curse of selfishness, and with them egotism must be unknown. 
Happy nations, indeed! passing an unruffled existence, surrounded 
by the azure crystal of their watery element, unaffected by storms 
from without, and unagitated by internal strife. 
The number of the members of these associations is not the 
least wonder they present. In a former chapter on sea-weeds, we 
mentioned the fact, that some of the fronds of the algz were found 
covered with a fine lace-like structure—a colony of the /lustra 
membranacea. This flustra has been found occupying a surface 
eight feet in length and five in breadth; and, by a calculation, it 
has been established, that the silvery lace had been the handicraft, 
and was then the home of more than 2,000,000 of industrious and 
happy fabricators—a colony which counted more inhabitants than 
there are people in Scotland. 
