1368 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



There are a few other true cellepore corals round 

 the coast. The largest of all, Cervicornis, may be 

 dredged a few miles outside on the Exmouth bank, 

 with a few more Tubulipores: but all tiny things, 

 the lingering and, as it were, expiring remnants of 

 that great coral-world which, through the abysmal 

 depths of past ages, formed here in Britain our lime- 

 stone hills, storing up for generations yet unborn 

 the materials of agriculture and architecture. In- 

 expressibly interesting, even solemn, to those who 

 will think, is the sight of those puny parasites which, 

 as it were, connect the ages and the eons: yet not 

 so solemn and full of meaning as that tiny relic of 

 an older world, the little pear-shaped Turbinolia 

 (cousin of the Madrepores and Sea-anemones), 

 found fossil in the Suffolk crag, and yet still linger- 

 ing here and there alive in the deep water of Scilly 

 and the west coast of Ireland, possessor of a pedi- 

 gree which dates, perhaps, from ages before the day 

 in which it was said: "Let us make man in our 

 image, after our likeness." 



But we must make haste ; for the tide is rising fast, 

 and our stone will be restored to its eleven hours' 

 bath long before we have talked over half the won- 

 ders which it holds. Look, though, ere you retreat, 

 at one or two more. 



What is that little brown thing whom you have 

 just taken off the rock to which he adhered so stoutly 

 by his sucking-foot? A limpet? Not at all: he is 

 of quite a different family and structure; but on the 

 whole, a limpet-like shell would suit him well 

 enough, so he had one given him: nevertheless, owing 



