350 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP, 
ethereal in its grace, transparency, and deli- 
cacy, as seen against the coarse dark surface 
that supports it.” : 
Few things are more beautiful than to look 
down from a boat into transparent water. 
At the bottom wave graceful sea-weeds, brown, 
green, or rose-coloured, and of most varied 
forms; on them and on the sands or rocks 
rest starfishes, mollusca, crustaceans, Sea- 
anemones, and innumerable other animals of 
strange forms and varied colours; in the clear 
water float or dart about endless creatures; 
true fishes, many of them brilliantly coloured ; 
Cuttle-fishes like bad dreams; Lobsters and 
Crabs with graceful, transparent Shrimps; 
Worms swimming about like living ribbons, 
some with thousands of coloured eyes, and 
Meduse like living glass of the richest and 
softest hues, or glittering in the sunshine with - 
all the colours of the rainbow. 
And on calm, cool nights how often have I 
stood on the deck of a ship watching with 
wonder and awe the stars overhead, and the 
sea-fire below, especially in the foaming, 
silvery wake of the vessel, where often sud- 
