36 FEBRUARY. 



We are among the olive -coated stones at the verge of 

 the far-receded tide, among which the springs from the 

 cliffs having broken out from various points in the 

 shingle beach, are making for themselves tortuous chan- 

 nels on their way to the deserting sea. Their water, 

 originally fresh of course, has, by the time it arrives 

 here, become so brackish by washing the salt stones 

 and sea- weeds, that the sand-hoppers and worms which 

 inhabit the hollows under the stones are bathed in it 

 with impunity, though, in general, immersion in fresh 

 water is fatal to marine animals. Great tufts of bladder 

 wrack and other Fuci spring from the lower stones, and 

 now lie flaccid about, awaiting the returning tide to 

 erect them and wave their leathery leaves to and fro. 

 Broad fronds of Viva, too, like tissue paper of the ten- 

 derest green, irregularly crumpled and waved, and 

 nibbled and gnawed into thousands of holes, lie crisp 

 and tempting ; and tufts of a darker, duller green, and 

 others of purple-brown, and others again of rosy crim- 

 son, stud these rough stones, and vary their ruggeduess 

 with elegance and beauty ; a beauty, however, far more 

 appreciable, and far more worthy of admiration, if we 

 could look upon it when the flowing tide creeps up, 

 with its calm water clear as crystal, and covers the 

 many-hued parterre, softening and displaying the grace- 

 ful outlines and the brilliant colours. Then, too, those 



