162 Secrets of the Ocean [FOURTH WEEK 



bles. It takes a long time to get used to pulling oneself 

 downward, or propping your knees against the under crev- 

 ices of rocks. To all intents and purposes, the law of 

 gravitation is partly suspended, and when stone and 

 wooden wedge accidentally slip from one's hand and disap- 

 pear in opposite directions, it is confusing, to say the least. 



When working in one spot for some time the fishes 

 seem to become used to one, and approach quite closely. 

 Slick-looking pollock, bloated lump-fish, and occasionally 

 a sombre dog-fish rolls by, giving one a start, as the mem- 

 ory of pictures of battles between divers and sharks of 

 tropical waters comes to mind. One's mental impressions 

 made thus are somewhat disconnected. With the blood 

 buzzing in the ears, it is only possible to snatch general 

 glimpses and superficial details. Then at the surface, 

 notes can be made, and specimens which have been over- 

 looked, felt for during the next trip beneath the surface. 

 Fronds of laminaria yards in length, like sheets of rubber, 

 offer convenient holds, and at their roots many curious 

 creatures make their home. Serpent starfish, agile as 

 insects and very brittle, are abundant, and new forms of 

 worms, like great slugs, their backs covered with gills 

 in the form of tufted branches. 



In these outer, eternally submerged regions are starfish 

 of still other shapes, some with a dozen or more arms. I 

 took one with thirteen rays and placed it temporarily in a 

 pool aquarium with some large anemones. On returning 

 in an hour or two I found the starfish trying to make a 

 meal of the largest anemone. Hundreds of dart-covered 

 strings had been pushed out by the latter in defence, 



