134 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



remains of innumerable ancestors of its host may be said to 

 be merely an imposition. One is a species of mollusc 

 which resembles, in some respects, that to which has been 

 given the name of Surpula. In its babyhood it attaches 

 itself to the coral, and forthwith begins to build a home, 

 which is nothing more than a calcareous tube, superficially 

 resembling a corpulent worm, instantaneously petrified 

 while in the act of a more or less elaborate wriggle or 

 fantastic contortion. In this complicated tunnel the crea- 

 ture resides, presenting a lovely circular disc of glowing pink 

 as its front door. A few inches beneath the water this 

 operculum or lid is not unlike a pearl, but as you gaze 

 upon it, it slips on one side, and five animated red rays 

 appear, waving like automatic flag signals. Though well 

 housed, it is almost as timorous as the coral polyps. Upon 

 the least alarm the rays disappear in a twinkle, and the 

 pink pearl trap-door glows again. Break off the end of 

 the shelly tunnel in an attempt to secure the pearl, and it is 

 as elusive as a sunbeam. It recedes as piece by piece is 

 broken away, until the edge of the cylinder is flush with 

 the surface of the coral in which the shell is embedded. 

 There the pearly operculum glows in safety. 



The living rays or flower-like face are the features in 

 which this encased worm resembles the coral polyps on the 

 one hand and the houseless beche-de-mer on the other. 

 Some of the numerous inhabitants of the reef, struggling to 

 keep in the fashion, make the very best of five simple 

 points. Others flaunt with no apparent vanity or pride 

 quite a plume of complex rays more or less beautifully 

 coloured. A worm which occasionally swims like a water 

 snake, and again reposes inertly on the sand, as does the 

 b^che-de-mer, sets off its brown naked body with a red 

 nimbus — a flexible living nimbus, ruby red. 



The visible part of the organism of the coral polyps 

 is composed of rays, from the sides of which spring secondary 

 rays,thecombination producing complex stars of great beauty, 

 and which call to mind the frost flowers, and the flowers into 

 which some inorganic substances bloom as they crystallise. 



