132 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



consist of legs with merely enough body to con- 

 nect these firmly together. The fact that the 

 thread-like stomach and other organs send a 

 branch into each of the eight legs explains the 

 mystery and shows how far economy of space may 

 go. Their skeleton-forms, having the appearance 

 of eight straggling filaments of seaweed, are thus, 

 doubtless, a great protection to these creatures 

 from their many enemies. Other hobgoblin forms 

 with huge probosces crawl slowly over the floors 

 of the anemone caves, or crouch as the shadow of 

 my hand or net falls upon them. 



The larger gorgeously coloured and graceful 

 sea-worms contribute not a small share to the 

 beauty of Fundy tide-pools, swimming in irides- 

 cent waves through the water or waving thei* 

 Medusa-head of crimson tentacles at the bottom 

 among the sea-lettuce. These worms form tubes 

 of mud for themselves, and the rows of hooks on 

 each side of the body enable them to climb up and 

 down in their dismal homes. 



Much of the seaweed from deeper bottoms 

 seems to be covered with a dense fur, which under 

 a hand lens resolves into beautiful hydroids, — 

 near relatives of the anemones and corals. 

 Scientists have happily given these most euphoni- 

 ous names — Campanularia, Obelia, and Plumu- 

 laria. Among the branches of certain of these, 

 numbers of round discs or spheres are visible. 

 These are young medusae or jelly-fish, which grow 



