ANEMONES AND SPONGES 



385 



Hermit Crabs that laboriously drag their 

 whelk-shell homes about with them. 



In turning over some of the flat stones 

 which lie half buried in the sand near 

 low-tide mark, we shall disturb many 

 strange-looking creatures, amongst others 

 some of the curious Marine Worms, which, 

 \nth their external gills, bristle feet, and 

 deeply segmented bodies, are much more 

 remarkable and interesting creatures than 

 their land - dwelling cousins. Some of 

 the Marine \\'orms build wonderful coiled 

 tubes upon the backs of old shells : and if 

 one of these tube-covered shells be placed 

 in a jar of sea-water the Worms will in 

 a little time recover from their alarm, 

 and cautiously thrust out their extra- 

 ordinary, tufted heads, looking for all the 

 world like miniature " Turk's heads," or 

 sweep's brooms. 



During our wanderings and probings 

 amongst the rock pools, we shall also 

 find that there are several species of fish 

 that are to a greater or less degree 

 dwellers in, or frequenters of, the pools. 

 Lurking under stones and in crevices 

 in the rocks at about half-tide mark, we 



coloured fish. They rarely exceed five 

 inches in length, and are olive-green in 

 colour, with reddish and buff markings. 



TEST OR SHELL OF A SEA URCHIN FROM 

 WHICH ALL THE SPINES HAVE BEEN 

 REMOVED. 



shall find the curious little Bull-headed 

 Shanney or Blenny. In the pools nearer 

 to low-tide mark, and generally hiding 

 under stones, the Rock Goby makes its 

 home. As a rule the pool will be found 

 to contam a pair of these rather prettily 



A BABY SEA-HORSE. 



The Goby fixes its spindle-shaped eggs 

 in close-set order to the under surface of 

 the shelving rocks in the deep, quiet pools. 

 The so-called " Sting-fish " or "' Father 

 Lasher " is a frequenter of the pools. It 

 has a very large head in proportion to the 

 size of its body, and bears four stoutish 

 spines upon its gill covers. It has gained 

 its popular name from its curious habit 

 of swelling out its spine-clad gill covers 

 when alarmed or disturbed, which gives 

 it quite a formidable appearance. As a 

 matter of fact, it does not sting, but 

 nevertheless it should be handled with 

 caution, as it is capable of inflicting 

 a nasty, painful wound with its gill 

 spines. 



In weedy, rock-strewn pools may be 

 found, too, the graceful and curious little 

 Sea-horse, which has gained its popular 

 name from its resemblance to a knight in 

 a set of chess-men. The little creature is 

 rather difficult to see and to capture, for it 

 \ery closely resembles its surroimdings 

 and, when resting, remains almost motion- 

 less, attached by its prehensile tail to the 

 stem of a seaweed. 



To give anything approaching a detailed 

 description of the almost countless forms 

 of life that teem ujion the shore between 

 the boundary of high and low water marks, 

 would fill the pages of " The Nature Book " 



