203 



CHAP. XIII. 



RAYED ANIMALS SEA NETTLES. 



Structure and Organisation. Variety of Species. Differences 

 in Form, Colour, Modes of Locomotion. Luminous Proper- 

 ties. Eeproduction, &c. 



MORE marvels than the most active and acute 

 naturalist can ever fully investigate, are profusely 

 scattered around us in the comparatively shallow 

 waters of our sea-coasts. At every reflux of the 

 tide, creatures are to be found whose structure, 

 habits and instincts, richly reward the utmost 

 patience of the investigator, and yield lessons as 

 to the great Fountain of Life calculated to fill 

 the soul with love and praise, and tending to im- 

 press the mind with the great philosophic truth, 

 that, viewed aright, no creature is " common or 

 unclean ; " and that even those which seem to the 

 ignorant and superficial of uncouth and forbidding 

 aspect, may, in a scientific and religious point of 

 view, be truly termed beautiful, because giving 

 birth to sentiments of beauty in the reflecting 

 beholder. 



The tide has now receded, and a long reach of 

 shore is uncovered. We pick our steps along those 

 slippery stones covered with green Confervce, 

 towards the rocks now laid bare. We venture to 



