EOMER ON THE SEA. 201 



therefore, to Homer, familiar with sights and sounds so 

 unusual, the sea could nevertheless be held as abounding 

 in marvels, judge "what it abounds in for our more easily 

 astonished minds. 



Come with me to the rocks, on my first visit after arrival. 

 The tide is not a very good one, but in a few minutes we 

 discover that we are in the land of marvels. Here are the 

 snaky-armed Antheas in abundance : green with ravishing 

 pink tips ; browai with silver-grey tentacles ; and a few of 

 quaker drab. Presently a noble Grassicornis reveals him- 

 self in a cleft — impossible to get at, unfortunately. But in 

 a few minutes another, then another, then a group, at last 

 such quantities of them make their appearance, that the 

 heart palpitates at the wealth. Was not this worth a few 

 hours' discomfort on board the packet ? Nay (now that it 

 is past), what luas that discomfort ? A hurricane of blows 

 upon the chisel answers with contemptuous emphasis. 



It is laborious w^ork this chiselling away of Anemones 

 from the granite. The grey-slate of Ilfracombe was trouble- 

 some ; the limestone of Tenby worse ; but this granite op- 

 poses us with quite another stubbornness, and needs ener- 

 getic patience to overcome it. In spite of March winds I am 

 forced to take off my coat after a little of this hammering ; 

 and during summer heats the exercise would create a vapour 

 bath, giving unpleasant extension to the faculty of perspiring, 

 which is exerted by the twenty-eight mUes of tubing (such 

 is the calculation) possessed by our skins. After filling our 

 baskets with as many of these Anemones as satisfy present 

 desires, Ave begin turning over the stones. Presently we 



