66 MAECH. 



clustered about the sides ; many of them are adhering 

 to the stone walls, several feet above the water. These 

 have been left uncovered for hours, and are none the 

 worse for it. They are closed, the many tentacles being 

 concealed by the involution of the upper part of the 

 body, so that they look like balls, or hemispheres, or 

 semi -ovals of flesh ; or like ripe fruits, so plump and 

 succulent and glossy and high-coloured, that we are 

 tempted to stretch forth the willing hand, to pluck 

 and eat. Some are greengages, some Orleans plums, 

 some magnum-bonurns, so various are their rich hues ; 

 but look beneath the water, and you see them not less 

 numerous, but of quite another guise. These are all 

 widely expanded ; the tentacles are thrown out in an 

 arch over the circumference, leaving a broad flat disk ; 

 just like a many-petalled flower of gorgeous hues : in- 

 deed, we may fancy that here we see the blossoms, and 

 there the ripened fruit. Do not omit, however, to notice 

 the beads of pearly blue that stud the margin all round, 

 at the base of the over-arching tentacles. These have 

 been supposed by some to be eyes; the suggestion, 

 however, rests on no anatomical ground, and is, I am 

 afraid, worthless ; though I cannot tell you what purpose 

 they do serve. 



Away ! for I wish to explore another scene not less 

 romantic than this, and which I know by experience to 



