110 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



these fantastic gardens begin to shine in new, mysterious 

 light ; green, yellow, and red flames are seen to kindle 

 and to fade away ; bright stars twinkle in every direction, 

 even the darkest recesses blaze up now and then, in bright 

 flashes of light, and fitful rays pass incessantly to and fro 

 in the wild, dark world beneath the waves. Broad fur- 

 rows of flashing light mark the track of the dolphins 

 through the midst of the foaming waters. Troops of por- 

 poises are sporting about, and as they cut through the 

 glistening flood, you see their mazy path bright with in- 

 tense and sparkling light. There also passes the huge 

 moon fish, shedding a pale spectral light from every fin 

 and scale, through the crowd of brilliant starfish, whilst 

 afar from the coast of Ceylon are heard the soft, melan- 

 choly accents of the singing mussel, like the distant notes 

 of an jEolian harp, and yet louder than even the breakers 

 on the rocky shore. But the great sea itself is not silent. 

 Listen, and you will hear how the gray old ocean, heaving 

 in a gentle motion, sings in an undertone, chiming in with 

 the great melody, until all the sweet sounds of sea, earth, 

 and air melt into one low voice alone, that murmurs over 

 the weary sea and, low or high, ever sings eternal praise 

 to the throne of Him, who " is mightier than the noise 

 of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea." 

 The great botanist, Schleiden, tells us how, off the coast 

 of the island of Sitka, the bottom of the sea is covered 

 with dense and ancient forests, where plant grows close 

 to plant, and branch intertwines with branch. Below, there 

 lies a closely woven carpet of rich hues, made of count- 

 less threads of tiny waterplants, red confervas, and brown- 



