THE WONDEES OF THE SHORE. 153 



horned Aurora, and a rich lilac and crimson variety, 

 which does not seem to agree with either the Lilacinia 

 or Eubicimda of Gosse. A more beautiful living 

 bouquet could hardly be seen, than might be made 

 of the varieties of this single species, from this one 

 place. 



On the outside sands between the end of the 

 Marina and the Martello tower, you may find, at very 

 low tides, great numbers of a sand-tube, about three 

 inches long, standing up out of the sand. I do not 

 mean the tubes of the Terebella, so common in all 

 sands, which are somewhat flexible, and have their 

 upper end fringed with a ragged ring of sandy arms : 

 those I speak of are strait and stiff, and ending in a 

 point upward. Draw them out of the sand — they 

 will offer some resistance — and put them into a vase 

 of water ; you will see the worm inside expand two 

 delicate golden combs, just like old-fashioned back- 

 hair combs, of a metallic lustre, which will astonish 

 you. With these combs the worm seems to burrow 

 head downward into the sand ; but whether he always 

 remains in that attitude I cannot say. His name is 



