144 CONCHOLOGIST’S COMPANION. 
sometimes envelope their majestic heads, and again 
as rapidly disclose them. The scene was beau- 
tiful and animating. Light skiffs glanced merrily 
over the transparent waters, and sea-birds darted 
from their coverts in the rocks, now rising in the 
air, now diving into the sea, and again appearing like 
foam upon the billows. In the distance, stupen- 
dous masses of black granite stood forth in all their 
native majesty, and on the nearest cliffs the glittering 
windows of a range of houses met the view. Sud- 
denly the mellow tones of the church clock, as if 
inspired by the spirit of Memnon, began to strike the 
hour at the moment when the beams of the now 
rising sun burst in full glory on the surrounding 
scene, and a long line of radiance streamed upon the 
face of the waters, occasionally lost or broken by the 
huge shadows of distant rocks. Meantime the vessel 
advanced to the shore, and the voyager sprung on land, 
‘* Seeking whate’er of beautiful or new, 
Sublime or dreadful, in earth, sea, or sky, 
By chance, or search, was offered to his view, 
To scan with curious and romantic eye.” 
BEATTIE. 
A variety of sea-shells, including several fine spe- 
cimens of the Turbo interruptus, or Streaked Turbo, 
and the Mya declivis, or Sloping Gaper, had been 
recently thrown on shore; the former, half buried in 
