136 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



pulsates at the centre. It starts and stops, contracts and 

 withdraws steadily into the sand upon interference. 



One of the shrimps {Gonodactylus chiragrd) in my 

 experience found only far out on the reef at dead low-water 

 winter spring-tides, might be taken as a display collection 

 in miniature of those gems of purest ray serene which the 

 dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear. The emerald-green 

 tail is fringed with transparent golden lace ; the malachite 

 body has the sheen of gold ; the chief legs are of emerald 

 with ruby joints, and silvery claws ; the minor as of amber, 

 while over all is a general sheen of ornamentation of points 

 and blotches of sapphire blue. Long white antennae, delicate 

 and opaque, spring from the head. The decorative hues are 

 not laid on flat, but are coarsely powdered and sprinkled as 

 in the case of one of the rarest of Brazilian butterflies, and 

 they live. Picture a moss-rose with the " moss " all the 

 colours of the rainbow, on which the light plays and sparkles, 

 and you have an idea of the effect of the jewellery of this 

 lustrous crustacean. Yet it is not for human admiration. 

 Its glints speedily dim in the air. To be gobbled up by 

 some hungry fish is the ordinary fate of the species. Pos- 

 sibly splendour is bestowed upon the shrimp as a means by 

 which certain fish distinguish a particularly choice dainty, 

 and the fish show the very acme of admiration by " wolfing " 

 it. Thus are the examples of high art in Nature remorse- 

 lessly lavished. 



Quite distinct is the unconscious genius which now 

 demands brief reference to its perfections. Though a 

 brilliant example of the employment of unattractive 

 deceptive features, it has no individual comeliness — not an 

 atom of grace, no style of its own. Every feature, attitude 

 and movement is subordinate to the part it plays. Death 

 being the penalty, it may not blunder. Behold, among 

 acres of similar growth, a trivial collection of rough, short 

 weeds of the sea — grey, green and mud-coloured. This 

 microcosm glides and stops. The movement is barely 

 perceptible ; the intervals of rest long and frequent. An 

 untimely slide as the chance gaze of the observer is directed 



