BY THE SEA. I I I 



to be clad in a thin armor of pearl, which, when 

 viewed in certain lights, sends forth all the 

 colors of the rainbow, like the inner lining of 

 muscle and fresh-water clam-shells. It is beset 

 with numerous bristles by which it moves, and 

 which it uses as weapons of defense whenever 

 the greedy cunners, at high water, push their 

 sharp noses in its crevice-home, and nibble too 

 closely at its prickly sides. 



In the salty pools another minute species of 

 sea-worm lives in a solid limestone tube, which 

 resembles a miniature powder-horn glued to the 

 fronds of various tangles. The crooked little 

 house has a trap-door (operculum) which the 

 inhabitant lifts up for food or freer respiration, 

 and pushes out a delicate wreath of branchiEe or 

 gills that looks like a tiny plume. Indeed, it is a 

 veritable " Jack-in-the-Box," excepting that the 

 method of appearing and disappearing is in reverse 

 order. It puts its head out slowly, but at the 

 least movement of the water, or even at a passing 

 shadow, it springs back into its case quicker than 

 the eye can follow it, and closely shuts the lid. 



How many sea Jacks there are in coats of mail 

 in different patterns and colors, scattered all about 

 here, that the fishes will be playing with again in 

 a few hours ! Millions of shore snails of many 

 species are lying on the wrack or lodge in the 

 crevices of the rocks, waiting for the tide. Some 



