A ROCKY BAY. 393 



that all these weapons are forged out of the clearest 

 glass instead of steel ; that the larger bundles may 

 contain about fifty, and the smaller half as many, 

 each, that there are four bundles on every segment, 

 and that the body is composed of twenty-five such 

 segments; and you will have a tolerable idea of the 

 garniture and armature of this little worm, that grubs 

 about in the mud at low-water mark. 



The spot where I found this Annelide is invested 

 with a melancholy interest, from its having been the 

 scene of a romantic incident that proved fatal to one 

 of the actors in it. Let me bring before your mind 

 the locality. 



If at low water you descend the steep flight of steps 

 from the north-east corner of Capstone Promenade, 

 you will find yourself in a wilderness of rocky boulders, 

 through which, partly by climbing over their slippery 

 masses, partly by winding round and between them, 

 you may pick your way eastward. After a little while 

 you come to a part where the precipitous coast recedes, 

 with a wide but shallow curve, to some distance from 

 the water's edge. The whole area bristles with pointed 

 rocks, except a narrow inlet or cove of coarse sand 

 that runs up obliquely from the north-west to the foot 

 of a wall of stone, which has been built up to the 

 height of thirty feet, where the cliffs failed. This is 

 the yard- wall of several of the houses that stand on the 

 quay and face the harbour; and from a door at its 

 summit, a triple zigzag flight of rude steps, the lower 

 range of which is cut out of the living rock, leads to 

 the beach. An iron rail at the top, almost eaten 

 through with rust, tells that the beating of the sea is 



