BECHE-DE-MER 169 



does the creature possess any means of self-protection. 

 Some species are rough and prickly, and are said to irritate 

 the hand that grasps them. Others either in nervousness, 

 or a result of shock to the system, or to amaze and affright 

 the beholder, shoot out interminable lengths of filmy, 

 cottony threads, white and glutinous, until one is astonished 

 that a small body should contain such a quantity of yarn 

 ready spun, to eject at a moment's notice like the mazes 

 of ribbon drawn from a conjurer's hat. 



While it would be idle to particularise the different 

 varieties of beche-de-mer, that lead such lowly lives in the 

 coral reef here, there is one more conspicuous than the others, 

 which may be referred to without presuming to trespass on 

 the preserves of scientific inquirers. Indeed, it is entitled 

 to notice, for it seems to be most prominent among the few 

 which afford examples of unconscious mimicry and sym- 

 pathetic coloration to insure themselves from molestation. 

 Beche-de-mer does not generally give the idea of capability 

 of even the simplest form of deception. True, the " black 

 fish," shrinking from observation, puts on a cloak of 

 sand, and a cousin assumes a resemblance to an irregular 

 piece of coral rugged, sea-stained and rotten. But the 

 variety under notice takes a higher place in the deceptive 

 art, for it seems to pose as an understudy to one of the 

 most nimble and vicious habitants of the sea the banded 

 snake. It lies coiled and folded among the stones and 

 coral of the reef, or partially hidden by brown seaweed, 

 which heightens its momentary effect upon the nerves of 

 the barefooted Beachcomber. Its length is from 4 to 5 

 feet, girth about 3 inches, colour reddish brown, with 

 darker bands and blotches. The deception is in appear- 

 ance only. A touch reveals an innocent but shocking 

 fraud a poor despicable dummy, lacking the meanest 

 characteristic of its alert original. 



Limp and impotent, it is little more than a skin full of 

 water, a yard and a half of intestine with no superficial indica- 

 tion of difference between head and tail. Watch closely, and 

 the " face," a much frayed mop is shyly obtruded from one 



