BY THE SEASIDE— ANIMAL LIFE 



species, which goes by the name of Synapta 

 Inhaerens, is the one most worthy of examination. 

 We must describe the creature first of all so that 

 we may know what to look for. It is aptly named 

 sea-cucumber for it is not unlike that fruit-^yes ! 

 fruit is correct, though the cucumber is more often 

 called a vegetable. The animal's skin is tough and 

 leathery and at the head end there is a fringe of 

 feathery tentacles. The sea cucumber must be 

 looked for amongst sea weeds or, maybe, he lies 

 buried in the sand, with only his fringe of tentacles 

 on view. A friendly fisherman will probably aid 

 us in our search. 



Having found our creature we must examine his 

 leathery skin under the microscope. To the touch 

 it is evident that it is studded with some flinty 

 matter, but the microscope alone can show us the 

 amazing beauty of this armour. Under a low 

 magnification, we can see, dotted over the leathery 

 skin, some nearly circular plates to each of which 

 is attached a little anchor. Now, from a dead 

 animal of course, we must scrape away some of 

 these objects and examine them with a higher 

 magnification. Even the hardened microscopist will 

 be delighted when he sees the armour of the sea- 

 cucumber for the first time. Each anchor is hinged 

 to a little plate, each little plate, nearly circular in 

 outline, is perforated with seven holes, six round 

 the circumference and one in the centre and every 

 perforation has a toothed margin. So perfect are 

 these minute plates and anchors, that the most 



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