LIFE IN THE OCEAN WAVE. 328 



oyster, the mussel, and the cockle, the latter remark- 

 able for its long coral-like feet, and its wonderful 

 powers of jumping. There are soles, plaice, skate, and 

 a variety of flat fish, all of which have their particular 

 ways. The sole, for example, has a specially wide-awake 

 air about it, as it lies on the sand with its head r£iised, 

 and its large eyes set on two projections so as to give it 

 a wide scope of vision. As it moves through the water 

 it glides in a succession of undulating curves of the 

 most graceful character, the glittering white under- 

 surface occasionally showing itself, as the creature 

 pursues its graceful course, every movement exemplify- 

 ing a line of beauty. A dead sole lying flat on a fish- 

 monger's slab and a living sole in motion seem almost 

 to be difierent beings, so utterly unlike are they. 



Plaice and dabs act much like the sole ; but the 

 ray lies flat and motionless on the sand, from which it 

 can scarcely be distinguished. A touch, however, at 

 once rouses it, and sends it darting through the water 

 at wonderful speed. It soon slackens its pace, and 

 comes slowly floating back to its old quarters, in a man- 

 ner which irresistibly reminds the observer of Tom 

 Hood's himiorous comparison of ' swimming a kite.' 

 Then there are plenty of cod, and very pretty creatures 

 they are, with their large eyes, spotted bodies, and the 

 broad waved silver stripe along their sides. To see 

 them in perfection a few living shrimps should be 

 thrown into the water, when the fish dart at them, 

 making their glittering sides flash and sparkle in the 



