92 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



treacherous bottom, which gives way beneath the feet 

 of those who unwarily trust in its seeming security. 



I could not see any of that muddy sand which 

 seems so favourite a place of resort for Annelids, nor 

 did I discover any of those picturesque grottoes, in 

 which simple and compound Ascidians, Sponges and 

 Alcyons clothe the roof, from which they hang sus- 

 pended like living stalactites. My courage sank, I 

 confess, but still I persevered, investigating every- 

 thing that fell in my way. By degrees my hopes re- 

 vived, until at length my discouragement entirely 

 gave place to the most gratifying assurance of success. 

 I found that there were certain points where the 

 sand and mud were blended together in proportions 

 which seemed to promise a rich harvest, and I dis- 

 covered that entire populations were sheltered be- 

 neath the very rocks which I had so heartily con- 

 demned. In truth, it required the skill and hard 

 blows of a true quarryman to dislodge these animals 

 from their retreats. I saw that I had hard work 

 before me, but I thought only of the recompense by 

 which my labours would assuredly be rewarded, and 

 the difficulties of the search did not appal me. 

 Without further consideration, I set to work, and 

 from the first day my expeditions were crowned with 

 success, for I always returned home laden with 

 treasures which afforded ample materials for work. 



In the present state of modern science, the inferior 

 animals present a very great degree of interest. In 

 the former chapter, while describing my mode of life at 

 Chausey, I endeavoured to show how the anatomist, 

 who reveals the material instruments of life, and 



