92 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAEIUM. 



inspection, it is not the less correct. Some writers, 

 however, resting upon hearsay evidence, greatly ex- 

 aggerate this quality, and state that "the Cockle has 

 been known to leap over the gunwale of a boat," by 

 means of a singular-looking fleshy foot which it pro- 

 trudes from its shell. 



This assertion appears, to my mind, like the story 

 of the Lobster that " has been known to spring to a 

 distance of thirty feet" a feat that comes up in 

 every new book wherein Crustacea are mentioned, as 

 regularly as the " marvellous hairy-gooseberry" anec- 

 dote, that meets our eye once a-year in the news- 

 papers. 



If Sir John Falstaff, of veracious memory, had 

 heard these stories, he might well have ejaculated 

 with a gulp, " Lord, Lord ! how this world is given 

 to lying ! " We may not uncharitably believe that 

 the sailor man had had a " drappie in his e'e," to 

 assist his natural power of vision, when he saw the 

 Lobster perform his unparalleled " spring;" and 

 hence we must excuse his (the sailor's) jump to a 

 wrong conclusion. Or, supposing that he was not 

 " half-seas over," he might have entered three feet, and 

 some wag getting hold of the log-book, slyly added a 

 cypher to the right side of the numeral, and made it 

 wrong. 



There can be no doubt, however, that the Cardium 

 does leap, although in a very small way ; for although 

 the jolly tar might tell a " fib," Mr Gosse's veracity 

 may surely be relied upon. I will therefore enrich 



