ACALEPH.E. 43 



Edwards. Unlike many who can write and converse 

 pleasantly in snug laboratories and easy studies, or 

 who, like myself, run no inconvenience, far less any 

 danger, in their humble researches at the beach, this 

 famous Savan has shewn more ardour than the most 

 zealous pearl-fisher, in pursuing his investigations 

 into marine wonders. Protected by an ordinary 

 diving-bell, he has descended into the depths of the 

 sea, and returned laden with specimens the like of 

 which had never been seen before. 



But, pursuing the idea with which we opened this 

 chapter, let us endeavour to form some conception of 

 the character of that ocean life that lies in the dozen 

 miles intervening between us and the Lomonds of 

 Fifeshire. We are, of course, still in the boat, and 

 within a few yards of the beach; nevertheless, we 

 can imagine ourselves armed with even a freer pass- 

 port than the diving-bell of Milne-Edwards. 



Behold ! we are down, and upon the sands. What 

 a variety of life meets us ! is our first reflection. On 

 every side, wherever we turn, our eyes are dazzled 

 with objects, the appearance of which in their native 

 element is so unlike what we had imagined them to 

 be; nay, the greater number of objects we meet is 

 perfectly new to us. There float by genuses of ani- 

 mals, not a species of which any zoologist ever saw. 

 Gorgeous sea-weeds bloom with a richness and fla- 

 vour which we believed it only possible for sun-bred 

 flowers to exhibit. We must add, for the credit of 

 mother Earth, however, that sights less pleasant are 



