72 Life Beneath the Waves. 



Objects of the Seashore," "it would be a 

 most unpleasant circumstance if the 

 creature were to wound itself with its own 

 weapons. In order therefore to obviate 

 this difficulty, each spear or bristle is fur- 

 nished with a double sheath, which closes 

 when it is retracted into the body, and 

 opens again when protruded. It is hardly 

 possible to conceive a more wonderful struc- 

 ture in the whole of the animal kingdom." 

 The Sea-mouse is also provided with a 

 number of stiff feet, which are also capable 

 of retraction and protrusion. 



Still more unprepossessing at first sight 

 than the mud-covered Sea-mouse is a cer- 

 tain soft, dirty white or yellow substance, 

 found adhering to shells and pieces of rock, 

 and owning a name as unattractive as its 

 appearance. Which name, however, is by 



