114 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



Harrys," the scallop of the pilgrim, and the pin- 

 cushion, of various hues, red, yellow, brown 

 speckled, and light ; and with them a writh- 

 ing mass of hairy, brittle starfish, many of whom 

 have already contrived to part with some of their 

 limbs in that loose and careless fashion which 

 characterises many marine species, their own 

 above all others. Throw the brittle starfish over- 

 board, and put the largest of the " King Harrys " 

 into the basket ; they are excellent, scalloped or 

 curried ; but the small ones may go back, for 

 there will be many more than we can require 

 for any purpose before the day is over. Gradually 

 the heap diminishes, and other creatures begin to 

 make their appearance pretty swimming crabs, 

 nicknamed velvet fiddlers, their hind-claws flat- 

 tened into a paddle ; and queer, slow-moving 

 spider-crabs, making up by craft for their want 

 of agility, for they have dressed themselves up, 

 one with seaweeds, and another with sponges and 

 live ascidians, so that when not in motion they 

 can hardly be distinguished from the bottom of 

 the sea, and any confiding creatures which come 

 within their reach are apt to discover too late 

 that the seemingly inanimate objects have long 

 claws and healthy appetites. It is most amus- 

 ing to watch one of these crabs in confinement, 

 combing the seaweed on his back like a gentle- 

 man parting his hair. My children christened 

 one the Grand Old Man ; why, I cannot imagine, 



