A STONY BEACH. 276 



becomes changed in character from the former range 

 downward, and, at the level of spring-tide low water, 

 is wholly composed of promising stones. The prac- 

 tised eye soon recognises the suitable spot, and is able 

 even to distinguish among the stones themselves those 

 which from something in their appearance, which 

 perhaps could scarcely be intelligibly described ; some- 

 thing in their form, or texture, or position, the manner 

 in which they lie, and their relation to the surround- 

 ing stones are most likely to reveal hidden treasures. 

 We have found such a beach (I know of a very 

 good one not far away; all the better, because the 

 amateurs and the trading collectors do not much in- 

 vade it), and begin our examination, about an hour 

 before the ebbing water reaches its extreme point, 

 on a good spring-tide, the second or third day after 

 full moon, we will say, in April or October, for then 

 the tidal wave recedes the lowest. The wind is off- 

 shore, and not a ripple is breaking the mirrory sea ; 

 there is no swell, the remnant of a storm now hushed 

 to repose, so that we may work at the very lowest 

 verge ; the stalwart young fisher returning from 

 examining his nets has hauled up his boat upon the 

 beach not far from the spot we have selected as the 

 scene of operations, and in his high water-boots, striped 

 Guernsey shirt, and red liberty-cap, lolls against her 

 bows, and, as he puffs his short cutty-pipe, looks 

 askance at us, half curious to see what we catch, yet 

 disdaining, with professional stoicism, to take any 

 direct notice of " land lubbers." 



