88 APRIL. 



stretching away into the sea, there is a mass of low 

 black rock, leprous with barnacles, and draped with 

 ragged tufts of oar- weed and tangle and bladder- wrack, 

 sweltering and blackening in the sun. It is much 

 broken up, and narrow winding lanes paved with sand 

 pierce it in all directions ; and shallow pools of quiet 

 water sleep everywhere in the hollows. Sweet little 

 sea-gardens are these pools : bright green leaves of 

 ulva float like tinted cambric in the water; tufts of 

 chondrus are glittering with steely reflections of gem- 

 meous blue ; large broad leaves of dulse, richly, darkly 

 red, afford fine contrasts with the green sea-lettuce; 

 and one and all give ample shelter to thousands of 

 vigilant, busy, happy, living creatures. It is treacherous 

 walking ; for the footing is very uneven, and the glare 

 of the sun on the water renders it difficult to see where 

 to tread ; while the advance and recess of the wavelets 

 on the sand between, give to the bewildered brain the 

 impression that everything is sliding from under the 

 foot. 



What is that object that lies on yonder stretch of 

 sand, over which the shallow water ripples, washing the 

 sand around it and presently leaving it dry ? It looks 

 like a stone ; but there is a fine scarlet knob on it ; 

 which all of a sudden has disappeared. Let us watch 

 the moment of the receding wave, and run out to it. 



