glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第10章
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inherit the now superfluous horns of his primeval wild ancestors； though
he fights now … if he fights at all … not with his horns； but with his
forehead。
Enough of Cardium tuberculatum。 Now for the other animals of the
heap； and first； for those long white razors。 They； as well as the grey
scimitars； are Solens； Razor…fish （Solen siliqua and S。 ensis）； burrowers
in the sand by that foot which protrudes from one end； nimble in
escaping from the Torquay boys； whom you will see boring for them
with a long iron screw； on the sands at low tide。 They are very good to
eat； these razor…fish； at least； for those who so think them； and abound in
millions upon all our sandy shores。 （3）
Now for the tapering brown spires。 They are Turritellae； snail… like
animals （though the form of the shell is different）； who crawl and
browse by thousands on the beds of Zostera； or grass wrack； which you
see thrown about on the beach； and which grows naturally in two or
three fathoms water。 Stay： here is one which is 〃more than itself。〃
On its back is mounted a cluster of barnacles （Balanus Porcatus）； of the
same family as those which stud the tide…rocks in millions； scratching
the legs of hapless bathers。 Of them； I will speak presently； for I may
have a still more curious member of the family to show you。 But
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meanwhile； look at the mouth of the shell； a long grey worm protrudes
from it； which is not the rightful inhabitant。 He is dead long since； and
his place has been occupied by one Sipunculus Bernhardi； a wight of
low degree； who connects 〃radiate〃 with annulate forms … in plain
English； sea… cucumbers （of which we shall see some soon） with sea…
worms。 But however low in the scale of comparative anatomy； he has
wit enough to take care of himself； mean ugly little worm as he seems。
For finding the mouth of the Turritella too big for him； he has plastered
it up with sand and mud （Heaven alone knows how）； just as a wry…neck
plasters up a hole in an apple…tree when she intends to build therein； and
has left only a round hole； out of which he can poke his proboscis。 A
curious thing is this proboscis； when seen through the magnifier。 You
perceive a ring of tentacles round the mouth； for picking up I know not
what； and you will perceive； too； if you watch it； that when he draws it
in； he turns mouth； tentacles and all； inwards； and so down into his
stomach； just as if you were to turn the finger of a glove inward from the
tip till it passed into the hand； and so performs； every time he eats； the
clown's as yet ideal feat； of jumping down his own throat。 （4）
So much have we seen on one little shell。 But there is more to see
close to it。 Those yellow plants which I likened to squirrels' tails and
lobsters' horns； and what not； are zoophytes of different kinds。 Here is
Sertularia argentea （true squirrel's tail）； here； S。 filicula； as delicate as
tangled threads of glass； here； abietina； here； rosacea。 The lobsters'
horns are Antennaria antennina； and mingled with them are Plumulariae；
always to be distinguished from Sertulariae by polypes growing on one
side of the branch； and not on both。 Here is falcata； with its roots
twisted round a sea…weed。 Here is cristata； on the same weed； and here
is a piece of the beautiful myriophyllum； which has been battered in its
long journey out of the deep water about the ore rock。 For all these you
must consult Johnson's 〃Zoophytes；〃 and for a dozen smaller species；
which you would probably find tangled among them； or parasitic on the
sea…weed。 Here are Flustrae； or sea…mats。 This； which smells very
like Verbena； is Flustra coriacea （Pl。 I。 Fig。 2）。 That scurf on the frond
of ore…weed is F。 lineata （Pl。 Fig。 1）。 The glass bells twined about this
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Sertularia are Campanularia syringa （Pl。 I。 Fig。 9）； and here is a tiny
plant of Cellularia ciliata （Pl。 I。 Fig。 8）。 Look at it through the field…
glass； for it is truly wonderful。 Each polype cell is edged with whip…
like spines； and on the back of some of them is … what is it； but a live
vulture's head； snapping and snapping … what for？
Nay； reader； I am here to show you what can be seen： but as for
telling you what can be known； much more what cannot； I decline； and
refer you to Johnson's 〃Zoophytes；〃 wherein you will find that several
species of polypes carry these same birds' heads： but whether they be
parts of the polype； and of what use they are； no man living knoweth。
Next； what are the striped pears？ They are sea…anemones； and of a
species only lately well known； Sagartia viduata； the snake…locked
anemone （Pl。 V。 Fig。 3（5））。 They have been washed off the loose stones
to which they usually adhere by the pitiless roll of the ground…swell；
however； they are not so far gone； but that if you take one of them home；
and put it in a jar of water； it will expand into a delicate compound
flower； which can neither be described nor painted； of long pellucid
tentacles； hanging like a thin bluish cloud over a disk of mottled brown
and grey。
Here； adhering to this large whelk； is another； but far larger and
coarser。 It is Sagartia parasitica； one of our largest British species； and
most singular in this； that it is almost always （in Torbay； at least；） found
adhering to a whelk： but never to a live one； and for this reason。 The
live whelk （as you may see for yourself when the tide is out） burrows in
the sand in chase of hapless bivalve shells； whom he bores through with
his sharp tongue （always； cunning fellow； close to the hinge； where the
fish is）； and then sucks out their life。 Now； if the anemone stuck to him；
it would be carried under the sand daily； to its own disgust。 It prefers；
therefore； the dead whelk； inhabited by a soldier crab； Pagurus Bernhardi
（Pl。 II。 Fig。 2）； of which you may find a dozen anywhere as the tide
goes out； and travels about at the crab's expense； sharing with him the
offal which is his food。 Note； moreover； that the soldier crab is the
most hasty and blundering of marine animals； as active as a monkey； and
as subject to panics as a horse； wherefore the poor anemone on his back
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must have a hard life of it； being knocked about against rocks and shells；
without warning； from morn to night and night to morn。 Against which
danger； kind Nature； ever MAXIMA IN MINIMIS； has provided by
fitting him with a stout leather coat； which she has given； I believe； to no
other of his family。
Next； for the babies' heads； covered with prickles； instead of hair。
They are sea…urchins； Amphidotus cordatus； which burrow by thousands
in the sand。 These are of that Spatangoid form； which you will often
find fossil in the chalk； and which shepherd boys call snakes' heads。
We shall soon find another sort； an Echinus； and have time to talk over
these most strange （in my eyes） of all living animals。
There are a hundred more things to be talked of here： but we must
defer the examination of them till our return； for it wants an hour yet of
the dead low spring…tide； and ere we go home； we will spend a few
minutes at least on the rocks at Livermead； where awaits us a strong…
backed quarryman； with a strong…backed crowbar； as is to be hoped （for
he snapped one right across there yesterday； falling miserably on his
back into a pool thereby）； and we will verify Mr。 Gosse's observation；
that …
〃When once we have begun to look with curiosity on the strange
things that ordinary people pass over without notice； our wonder is
continually excited by the variety of phase； and often by the uncouthness
of form； under which some of the meaner creatures are presented to us。
And this is very specially the case with the inhabitants of the sea。 We
can scarcely poke or pry for an hour among the rocks； at low…water mark；
or walk； with an observant downcast eye； along the beach after a gale；
without finding some oddly…fashioned； suspicious…looking being； unlike
any form of life that we have seen before。 The dark concealed interior
of the sea becomes thus invested with a fresh mystery； its vast recesses
appear to be stored with all imaginable forms； and we are tempted to
think there must be multitudes of living creatures whose very figure and
structure have never yet been suspected。
〃'O sea！ old sea！ who yet knows half Of thy wonders or thy pride！'〃
GOSSE'S AQUARIUM； pp。 226； 227。
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