26 THE OCEAN. 



some by being tlius changed twice during every 

 twenty-four hours. In such delightful little ponds, 

 clear as crystal when left undisturbed by the receding 

 tide, these interesting little creatures may be found 

 often in great numbers, sporting about amongst the 

 confervse and corallines which so elegantly and fanci- 



Marine Entomostraca {Cylhert uibo-maculatu aud Cyclops chelifer). 



fully fringe their edges and decorate their sides, and 

 which form such a glorious subaqueous forest for 

 myriads of living creatures to disport themselves in. 

 Sheltered amongst the 'umbrageous multitude' of 

 stems and branches, and nestling in security in theii 

 forest glades, they are safe from the fuiy of the ad- 

 vancing tide, though lashed up to thunder by the 

 opposing rocks which for a moment check its ad- 

 vance ; and weak and powerless though such pigmies 

 seem to be, they are yet found as numerous and 

 active in their little wells, after the shores have been 

 desolated by tlie miglity force of the tide which 

 has been driven in by the power of a fierce tempest, 

 as when the waves have rolled gently and calndy 

 to the shore iu their sweetest murmurs. These 

 insects have never been seen to swim, invariably 



