78 COWIE RIVER. 



of rocks jutting out some distance into the sea, the 

 foaming billows of which, dashing over them with 

 great violence, impart a degree of wildness and 

 desolation to the scene. Here are frequently to be 

 found, in vast numbers and of an extraordinary size, 

 the beautiful Argonautce, or paper-sailors, the shells 

 of which are remarkable for their excessive thin- 

 ness, surpassed perhaps by none in delicacy and 

 elegance of structure. This exquisite specimen 

 of conchology resembles in form a scroll, with a 

 large aperture, the surface being ornamented with 

 many caniculated grooves, proceeding from the sum- 

 mit to the outer margin, which is in general bicari- 

 nated. 



" Two feet they upwards raise, and steady keep ; 

 These are the masts and rigging of the ship : 

 A membrane stretch' d between supplies the sail, 

 Bends from the mast, and swells before the gale ; 

 The other feet hang paddling on each side, 

 And serve for oars to row, and helm to guide. 

 'Tis thus they sail, pleased with the wanton game, 

 The fish, the sailor, and the ship, the same. 

 But when the swimmers dread some danger near, 

 The sportive pleasure yields to stronger fear ; 

 No more they wanton drive before the blasts, 

 But strike the sails, and bring down all the masts : 

 The rolling waves their sinking shells o'erflow, 

 And dash them down again to sands below." 



The Pinna cancellated is also found on these shores. 

 This genus produces in large quantities a very fine 

 sort of byssus, or beard, which the Italians frequently 



