THE NORTH SEA 81 



but never one to equal that fairy bird, quivering 

 over these fairy oceans. 



I join the boys who are fishing out at low water- 

 mark ; dangling their bare legs over the furthest 

 exposed rock, paddling their brown feet in the 

 water, and dipping their not very delicate bait 

 down among the thousand discs of the great 

 seaweeds, to tempt the not very particular red 

 codling, and dark poddies. 



This outer limit of ocean vegetation, known as 

 the larninarian region, seems to be used as a sort 

 of nursery for the young of many of the larger 

 fishes, which, erelong, will go out to the great 

 watery world, and engage in the fierce competition 

 constantly raging there. 



This domain has long been known to lovers 

 of nature, and also to those who, after a certain 

 dilettante fashion, were also students. Many 

 books have been embellished, and many aquariums 

 stocked, and much poetry written, much delight 

 experienced, and a little knowledge gained. 



It is only recently that the sea, beyond 

 the lowest ebb, has been systematically scanned 

 and explored; and the variety, and ways of its 

 inhabitants made as familiar as those of the rock 



pool. So long as the investigations were left to 

 6 



