84 GLAUCUS ; OR, 



not shifted it for years past. It lies on other 

 boulders clear of sand and mud, so that there is 

 no fear of dead sea-weed having lodged and de- 

 cayed under it, destructive to animal life. "We 

 can see dark crannies and caves beneath ; yet 

 too narrow to allow the surge to wash in, and 

 keep the surface clean. It will be a fine mena- 

 gerie of Nereus, if we can but turn it. 



Now, the crowbar is well under it ; heave, and 

 with a will ; and so, after five minutes' tugging, 

 propping, slipping, and splashing, the boulder 

 gradually tips over, and we rush gi'cedily upon 

 the spoil. 



A muddy dripping surface it is, truly, full of 

 cracks and hollows, uninviting enough at first 

 sight: let us look it round leisurely, to see if 

 there are not materials enough there for an hour's 

 lecture. 



The first object which strikes the eye is prob- 

 ably a group of milk-white slugs, from two to 

 six inches long, cuddling snugly together. You 

 try to pull them off, and find that they give you 

 some trouble, such a firm hold have the delicate 

 white sucking arms, which fringe each of their 

 five edges. You see at the head nothing but a 

 yellow dimple ; for eating and breathing are 



