CYTHEHE. 
289 
which are within reach of the tide, and the water of which is 
kept sweet and wholesome by being thus changed twice 
during every twenty-four hours. In such delightful pools, 
clear as crystal, when left undisturbed by the receding tide, 
these interesting animals may be found, often in great num- 
bers, sporting about amongst the confervse and corallines 
which so elegantly and fancifully fringe their edges and 
decorate their sides, and which form such a glorious sub- 
aqueous forest for myriads of living creatures to disport them- 
selves in. Sheltered amongst the e umbrageous multitudes 9 
of stems and branches, and nestling in security in their forest 
glades, they are safe from the ravages of the advancing tide, 
though lashed up to fury by the opposing rocks which for 
a moment check its advance ; and weak and powerless though 
such pigmies seem to be, they are yet found as numerous and 
active in their little wells, after the shores have been deso- 
lated by the mighty force of the tide which has been driven 
in in thunder by the power of a fierce tempest, as when the 
waves have rolled gently and calmly to the shore in their 
sweetest murmurs.”* The various species have never 
been observed to swim; they walk among the branches. 
Cytheee elayida, Muller. — Shelloblong, narrow, smooth, 
* British Entomostraca, p. 167. 
U 
