4 
INTRODUCTION. 
corallines, or knobbed with Balani and masses of Berenice. 
Swept from their haunts in the deep water and stranded 
by the restless waves on the sandy beach, the shell¬ 
fish—thrusting siphons or feet from their relaxing valves 
in sickness, in search of safety or their native element—are 
now pounced on by hooded and carrion-crows and gulls; 
and the vacant and gaping valves frequently attest how 
daintily they and the cunning oyster-catchers have fed on 
the soft inhabitants. Hosts of young sea-urchins are found 
on the beach alive; and the safety of the larger specimens 
is attained by immersion in the soft debris. Occasionally a 
bare portion of sand is speckled with numerous starfishes, from 
the pale hues of the sand-stars to the brilliant scarlet of Solaster 
papposus and the purples of S. endeca and Astropecten irregu¬ 
laris. Others slowly disentangle themselves from the wreck, 
and, throwing out their sucker-feet, make active progress over 
the tiny sand-ridges. Ophiura lacertosa ) again, often buries 
its disk from the gaze of the sea-fowl or for moisture, leaving 
its arms projecting. Another echinoderm, Cucumaria com¬ 
munis , is plentiful, though it can scarcely be distinguished 
in the muddy debris. Vast multitudes of the sheaths of Tere- 
bellce lie on the sands and especially collect on the bottom of 
the Swilken burn; they are for the most part, but not always, 
empty, the agitated waters having compelled these denizens 
of the sand and gravel either to evacuate their homes in their 
native sites or before reaching the beach ; and hence the dis¬ 
proportion between the tubes and their inhabitants. Thousands 
of the annelid Phyllodoce citrina may be scooped from the 
sand-pools. Nereides lurk in shells, sheaths, or anywhere for 
shelter; sea-mice occasionally in myriads are indicated by their 
splendid bristles amidst the debris; and in the pools lie the 
curious Ophelia limacina , the golden-bristled spoon-worm, and 
many other rare annelids. Sessile-eyed crustaceans also 
swarm in the pools and tide-streams ; while the larger forms 
are represented by Hyas , the edible, shore, and hermit crabs. 
Fishes are sometimes scarce—dead gurnards, plaice, and frog- 
fish being the most conspicuous, though occasionally weevers, 
sand-launces, viviparous blennies, gunnels, armed bull-heads, 
suckers, father-lashers, and tadpole-hakes are also found. 
