LIFE BY THE SEASHORE, 



CHAPTEE I. 



THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORE 



ANIMALS. 

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Conditions of shore life The abundant food-supply The physical 

 conditions Influence of the tides The peculiarities of shore 

 animals Passive means of protection Shells and tubes The 

 habit of burrowing Protection against organic foes Weapons of 

 offence and defence Self-mutilation Partnerships Colour resem- 

 blances Masking Dangers of storms and floods Means of dis- 

 tribution Characters of young and larval forms. 



are perhaps few localities where the extraordinary 

 _ abundance of life is more striking than on the seashore. 

 From the birds which circle and cry overhead to the count- 

 less myriads of sand-hoppers which spring up at every 

 footstep, there seems to be life everywhere, life in a careless 

 and wanton profusion the secret of which is known to the 

 sea alone. Nowhere else does one find animals in such 

 number and variety within a limited area. It is therefore 

 all the more remarkable that while so many people take an 

 interest in terrestrial animals, such as insects and land shells, 

 relatively so few are interested in marine animals, where the 

 field is so much wider, and the phenomena so much more 

 striking. For every person who could name a common 

 anemone there must be dozens who could name a common 

 butterfly, and this in a country not a little proud of its 

 encircling ocean. The opportunity for shore -hunting is 



