Life Beneath the Waves. 21 



minds of those who were previously totally 

 indifferent to the fact that, hidden away in 

 the depths of the ocean, live tribes of 

 creatures of the most exquisite beauty 

 and wondrous organizations. 



So multifarious are these submarine 

 denizens so interesting, marvellous, and 

 attractive their various idiosyncrasies that 

 it is rather a difficult matter to decide 

 which to select for consideration in a 

 little book of this description. 



And again, on the one hand, if I indulge 

 in minute details, the charge of trespassing 

 on other people's grounds may be laid to 

 my account ; and on the other, if but few 

 particulars are given concerning the sub- 

 marine specimens selected, I may be ac- 

 cused of ignorance and inability. 



So you see, I am, as Brother Jonathan 

 would observe, u rather in a fix ;" but as 



