92 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



home, I bjgan to scrape away the sand till I came down to 

 a membrane. I then cut the mass open, and found an 

 Ascidian, which had so completely coated itself with sand, 

 that sand became its integument. 



Having turned over the heap, and shown me one by one 

 every shell or weed. Jack now began to clear the boat, and 

 to liaul in the Dredge once more. After a few hauls, our 

 bucket was sufficiently stocked, and we sailed homewards, 

 skimming the surface with a net in the hope of capturing 

 some jellyfish, but none appeared. We ought to have been 

 in high spirits ; but whatever consolation may have been in 

 the thought of the bucket, we were not hilarious, I pledge 

 you my word, as we scudded along, green and silent. We 

 reached the pier- steps at last. Jack carried the bucket after 

 me, and the perplexed vassal at the lodging-house brought 

 down a foot-pan, into which the contents of the bucket were 

 emptied. I should not like to inquire too closely into that 

 vassal's private opinion of me and my pursuits. The next 

 day, when I met Jack, he was gratified to learn that the result 

 of our dredging had been highly satisfactory, as indeed it 

 was ; for besides abundance of known animals, I had found 

 two entirely new genera of Annelids. 



Sea-sickness is not an agreeable sensation. While endur- 

 ing it, we all vow never again to brave it without urgent 

 necessity ; and yet the next day we forget our resolution, 

 and step lightly on board, mentally singing — 



" The sea ! the sea ! the open sea ! 

 1 am wlicre I would ever be ! " 



And if we do this merely for the sake of running to France 



