220 THE OCEAN. 
“Look, how the sea-plants trembling float, 
All like a mermaid’s locks, 
Waving in thread of ruby red, 
Over those nether rocks ! 
“ Heaving and sinking, soft and fair, 
Here hyacinth—there green,— 
With many a stem of golden growth, 
And starry flowers between. 
“But away! away! to upper day! 
For monstrous shapes are here ; 
Monsters of dark and wallowing bulk, 
And horny eyeballs drear: 
“The tusked mouth and the spiny fin, 
Speckled and warted back, 
The glittering swift and flabby slow, 
Ramp through this deep sea track. 
& Away! away! to upper day! 
To glance o’er the breezy brine, 
And see the nautilus gladly sail, 
The flying-fish leap and shine !” 
While pursuing our pleasant course amidst these 
sandy keys, we may often observe the Green Turtle 
(Chelonia mydas) swimming or floating at the sur- 
face. In general it is difficult to approach them 
within less than a few yards, as they are very wary, 
and dive with great rapidity. The shoals and reefs 
surrounding the islands, where the sun penetrates 
and warms the water, are favourite resorts of these 
marine Reptilia; and here, too, grow in abundance 
the sea-plants (Zostera, &c.) on which they feed. 
At night, the females land on the low sandy beaches, 
and after examining the place with great caution 
and circumspection, lay their eggs in holes, which 
they scoop out with their fin-like feet. The work 
