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this vicinity. The state of the tide was so favorable that 

 some of the more adventurous passed quite through this sin- 

 gular fissure. On the shore-side the mouth of the cave is 

 high and broad ; but a-s the adit is penetrated, the passage be 

 comes narrow and somewhat winding. It also required 

 some care and surefootedncss to pass over the smooth and 

 wave polished pavement and to overcome the obstacles in the 

 way. The portion, Avhicli required the most judgment to 

 visit was a pool quite near the outer mouth, in which the sea 

 anemonics {Actinia marginatci) liave their abode. We well 

 rememlicr that many years ago Ave visited this cavern under 

 the common impression that here only could they be found. 

 As some of the party had never witnessed these animal flow- 

 ers there was a laudable desire to penetrate to their habitats. 

 It was done however at the expense of wetted feet and mois- 

 tened garments ; and even when this deed vras accomplished, 

 these impolite inhabitants of the ocean obsthiately refused to 

 receive their unwonted guests with open arms or to display 

 their petal-like rays, in which form the chief beauty lies. 

 .Uas I how often simple trutii is slighted vvdien found after 

 the search for it under persuasive fiction : and in some dull 

 opaque lumps of what seemed to be the ends of talloAV can- 

 dles, the disappointed visitors could hardly imagine, lay con- 

 cealed a wonderful beauty and exquisite symmetry and mar- 

 velous apparatus of mechanical organization. The high and 

 A'aulted roof wdien beaten by the incoming tides lashed to 

 fury by the winds must jiroduce a grand effect, and Avorthy 

 the attention of those, who come to such a spot for curiosity 

 or pleasure. The tints upon its sides produced 1)y closely 

 adherent and crustaceous, lichen-like algae, aided in their 

 way to heighten the many colors of the A^einy and mottled, 

 and speckled surface of the mineral strata. Altogether 

 Swallow's Cave is one of the many Avonders of Nahant, not- 

 Avithstandiug the sea anemonies do not dAvell exclusively in 

 its pools and do not grow only upon its walls ; but may be 



