3 22 Life in the Open 



rise and poise a tracery of ineffable delicacy and 

 beauty, forming a natural canopy for numbers of long- 

 spined black echini, or sea-urchins ; formidable creat- 

 ures, sea-porcupines, that recognise the presence of 

 some possible enemy, and attempt to hide by plunging 

 deeper into the maze. Splashes of white tell of a white 

 sea-urchin, and almost every nook and corner of this 

 sea-forest is inhabited by these aggressive creatures. 



The bottom of the sea along this rocky shore is 

 a colour scheme of marvellous beauty. Green is the pre- 

 dominating hue, but green in countless shades, tones, 

 and expressions. Sometimes a short wiry weed covers 

 the bottom, but it is constantly being waved aside 

 to display other and more beautiful colours : weeds in 

 purple, brown, rocks of lavender encrusted with a flam- 

 ing red sponge or a mass of pink serpulse, from which 

 rises the delicate mauve tracery of their breathing 

 organs. This sea tapestry is constantly in motion, so 

 has the appearance of changing light and shade, tint 

 and colour, every moment displaying some new creature 

 to the voyagers of the curious craft with windows look- 

 ing down into the sea. 



As it glides along, the bottom seemingly slipping 

 away, a strange pointed snakelike head appears, pro- 

 jecting from the algae. It turns, glides forward with a 

 singular motion, and displays itself ; an eel or 

 moray, four feet or more in length and proportion- 

 ately robust. It is a dark brown colour, spotted 

 here and there with yellow, and should it open 



