APTEE, A STOKM. 119 



bulb is a foot across, and the fronds, of which several 

 are attached, may spread out in a circle of twelve feet 

 in diameter — one single plant a sufficient load for a 

 man's shoulder. 



Curious little slugs and snails lurk in that grand 

 cavern, the hollow bulb, and fishes lay their eggs there. 

 I have found them often. There seems to be a mass 

 of jelly thinly spread in patches within — two black 

 dots in regular order, and an arch of minuter dots. 

 Cut out a patch, but keep it in water until you can 

 place it in a watch glass under the microscope. The 

 double dots are the eyes of an unborn fish, the dotted 

 arch its tiny form coiled up round a large air bladder. 

 "We see the circulating blood and the little heart beat- 

 ing, and we are glad that we did uol throw away the 

 old spiny bulb. Cut it open, if you are wise, and 

 learn its secrets. 



And those little shells upon the curly frond, what 

 are they ? Could you see it under water, calm sunny 

 water, all these are living, lovely little creatures, so 

 delicately yet elaborately fashioned that we hold our 

 breath in astonishment as we gaze upon the uprising 

 plumes from every tiny shell. These plumes are the 

 breathing organs of the little Serpula: they rise and 

 fall instantaneously at approach of food or sound of 

 danger ; and beside the plumes is a horny thread, scar- 

 let or yellow, knobbed at the end, which, when drawn 

 in, corks up the aperture securely. Wonderful are 

 these specks on the Laminaria. Take some home and 

 put them in a watch-glass with a little sea water, use 

 a low power, and see the tiny creature peer forth and 

 wave its pretty plumes. Just imagine the mechanism 



