LIFE AT AND NEAR SURFACE 133 



them. Some of the forms so closely resemble 

 bits of rock, seaweed or other objects that we 

 cannot distinguish them until they move about, 

 and other creatures, which are not provided 

 with natural means of protection, have learned 

 to conceal themselves by planting various bits 

 of seaweed and other growths upon their own 

 shells or skins. More wonderful than all we 

 will find that many soft, helpless animals have 

 become lifelong companions of dangerous, 

 poisonous creatures for the sake of the protec- 

 tion their strange friends afford, thus forming 

 veritable submarine partnerships. 



I have said that many marine animals can- 

 not live away from their normal homes on 

 account of the difference in temperature of 

 the water, but there are times when certain 

 creatures may wander far from their ordinary 

 haunts and may live and thrive for a long time 

 thousands of miles from where they usually 

 occur. For example, the water of the Gulf 

 Stream is much warmer than the surround- 

 ing ocean, even as far north as New England, 

 and during the summer months many strange 

 tropical marine creatures are carried north by 



