350 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



ethereal in its grace, transparency, and deli- 

 cacy, as seen against the coarse dark surface 

 that supports it." 



Few things are more beautiful than to look 

 down from a boat into transparent water. 

 At the bottom wave graceful sea-weeds, brown, 

 green, or rose-coloured, and of most varied 

 forms ; on them and on the sands or rocks 

 rest starfishes, moUusca, crustaceans. Sea- 

 anemones, and innumerable other animals of 

 strange forms and varied colours ; in the clear 

 water float or dart about endless creatures; 

 true fishes, many of them brilliantly coloured ; 

 Cuttle-fishes like bad dreams ; Lobsters and 

 Crabs with graceful, transparent Shrimps ; 

 Worms swimming about like living ribbons, 

 some with thousands of coloured eyes, and 

 Medusse like living glass of the richest and 

 softest hues, or glittering in the sunshine with 

 all the colours of the rainbow. 



And on calm, cool nights how often have I 

 stood on the deck of a ship watching with 

 wonder and awe the stars overhead, and the 

 sea-fire below, especially in the foaming, 

 silvery wake of the vessel, where often sud- 



