88 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



the Dredge at our service. In the previous Cliapters I de- 

 scribed our hunting on the rocks, and picking up what gales 

 might have thrown upon the shore ; and the amateur gene- 

 rally contents himself with these resources, unless his desires, 

 enlarging with his knowledge, urge liim, as they did me, to 

 follow more ambitious naturalists, and try dredging. He 

 knows that in depths never laid bare by retiring tides there 

 are animals of price. He knows that the oyster-beds are 

 hunting-grounds where a single venture will bring him 

 more than a month can properly examine. It is true that 

 he may also know that he will be sick ; but, as Schiller 

 says,— 



{' Es wachst der Mensch mit seinen grossern Zweckrn ;" 

 (Our stature heightens with our heightening aims), — 



and the hope of Molluscs makes man's stomach equal to the 

 occasion. Our boatmen told us of one well-known Ana- 

 tomist, who went out every day during his stay at Tenby, 

 dredging as if dredging were his daily bread, always sick, no 

 matter how calm the sea ; always suffering, but never 

 daunted by wind or storm. Very amusing it was to notice 

 the puzzlement of these honest boatmen at what they 

 evidently considered a sort of inexplicable eccentricity in 

 our thus throwing away our days, our money — and our 

 breakfasts — in the pursuit of worms, oyster-shells, and 

 weeds. Had we gone fishing, they could have entered into 

 our hopes and enthusiasm ; had we sought for pearls in the 

 oyster-shells, their sympathy would have been ready ; but 

 that any sane man should be anxious for the rubbish which 

 they nightly threw away when their nets were hauled in, 



