8o WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



beautiful names, calls them rose, and dahlia ; daisy, 

 and marigold. 



The common shore species are the dahlia 

 (Tealia crassicornis) and the less attractive beadlet 

 (Actinia messembryanthemum). But, out in the 

 bay are the nobler dianthus, flower of the gods ; 

 and a still larger form, usually found journeying 

 about on the crab's back, till it overlaps the shell, 

 and makes the life of its host not worth living. 



I edge up some of the stones, careful lest the 

 drip dim the surface, and the eel-like gunnel, or 

 the viviparous blenny, the bearded rockling, or 

 the formidable bullhead, the quaint Montague- 

 sucker, or some transparent gobby, darts, or 

 wriggles away. 



Abandoning the vaguer waters outside to his 

 larger relatives, the lesser tern is poising over the 

 pools, focussing some living form which has ven- 

 tured from the shelter of the weeds. I watch, in 

 fear, lest he strike the side of the rocky basin, 

 or dash himself against some stone in the shallows. 

 But still he rapidly drops, and rises again, and 

 flits on to the next. No one, who is unacquainted 

 with the bird, can conceive how exquisitely delicate, 

 graceful, and even spiritual he is. I have seen 

 many a perfect picture nature is full of them : 



