OE, GLIMPSES BENEATH THE WATERS. 



the Crab himself (generally Faguras Bernhardus)^ 

 and in that position is hurried along, in the sidling 

 gallop of his steed, in a way that must often prove 

 inconyenient ; for in passing under ledges of rock, 

 the Crab, doubtless, only takes his own measure. 

 Yet, in such cases, the Anemone probably knows 

 how to take care of himself ; and when Bernhardus 

 becomes skittish and adventurous, "draws in his 

 horns," as many other bold spirits are obliged to do 

 at certain crises of their career ; and in this state, 

 presenting only a semi- spherical mass of tough 

 leathery substance, he can fearlessly allow himself 

 to be driven beneath stony archways, or under 

 impending branches of the marine forests, by his 

 ferocious Jehu, with less chance of injury than the 

 outside passenger of a terrestrial stage-coach pass- 

 ing beneath the low gateway of some inn-yard. 



Our largest native shell of the Whelk tribe is 

 the Fusus antiquuSy often used by the Shetland 

 islanders as a lamp ; for which purpose it is sus- 

 pended horizontally, the cavity holding the oil, and 

 the wick projecting from the canal. 



The Whelks belong to the interesting family 

 Muricid(jB^ some of which, natives of our own coasts, 

 are very pretty objects for the Aquarium. It was 

 the Murex trunculus which yielded the Tyrian 



77 



