glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第15章
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presently； and both of these we must regard as the first rudiments of an
Echinoderm's outside skeleton； such as in the Sea…urchins covers the
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whole body of the animal。 （See on Echinus Millaris； p。 89。） （7）
Somewhat similar anchor…plates； from a Red Sea species； Synapta
Vittata； may be seen in any collection of microscopic objects。
The animal； when caught； has a strange habit of self…destruction；
contracting its skin at two or three different points； and writhing till it
snaps itself into 〃junks；〃 as the sailors would say； and then dies。 My
specimens； on breaking up； threw out from the wounded part long
〃ovarian filaments〃 （whatsoever those may be）； similar to those thrown
out by many of the Sagartian anemones； especially S。 parasitica。
Beyond this； I can tell you nothing about Synapta； and only ask you to
consider its hands； as an instance of that fantastic play of Nature which
repeats； in families widely different； organs of similar form； though
perhaps of by no means similar use； nay； sometimes （as in those
beautiful clear…wing hawk…moths which you； as they hover round the
rhododendrons； mistake for bumble…bees） repeats the outward form of a
whole animal； for no conceivable reason save her … shall we not say
honestly His？ … own good pleasure。
But here we are at the old bank of boulders； the ruins of an antique
pier which the monks of Tor Abbey built for their convenience； while
Torquay was but a knot of fishing huts within a lonely limestone cove。
To get to it； though； we have passed many a hidden treasure； for every
ledge of these flat New…red…sandstone rocks； if torn up with the crowbar；
discloses in its cracks and crannies nests of strange forms which shun
the light of day； beautiful Actiniae fill the tiny caverns with living
flowers； great Pholades （Plate X。 figs。 3； 4） bore by hundreds in the
softer strata； and wherever a thin layer of muddy sand intervenes
between two slabs； long Annelid worms of quaintest forms and colours
have their horizontal burrows； among those of that curious and rare
radiate animal； the Spoonworm； （8） an eyeless bag about an inch long；
half bluish grey； half pink； with a strange scalloped and wrinkled
proboscis of saffron colour； which serves； in some mysterious way； soft
as it is； to collect food； and clear its dark passage through the rock。
See； at the extreme low…water mark； where the broad olive fronds of
the Laminariae； like fan…palms； droop and wave gracefully in the retiring
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ripples； a great boulder which will serve our purpose。 Its upper side is a
whole forest of sea…weeds； large and small； and that forest； if you
examined it closely； as full of inhabitants as those of the Amazon or the
Gambia。 To 〃beat〃 that dense cover would be an endless task： but on
the under side； where no sea… weeds grow； we shall find full in view
enough to occupy us till the tide returns。 For the slab； see； is such a one
as sea…beasts love to haunt。 Its weed…covered surface shows that the
surge has not shifted it for years past。 It lies on other boulders clear of
sand and mud； so that there is no fear of dead sea…weed having lodged
and decayed under it； destructive to animal life。 We can see dark
crannies and caves beneath； yet too narrow to allow the surge to wash in；
and keep the surface clean。 It will be a fine menagerie of Nereus； if we
can but turn it。
Now the crowbar is well under it； heave； and with a will； and so；
after five minutes' tugging； propping； slipping； and splashing； the
boulder gradually tips over； and we rush greedily upon the spoil。
A muddy dripping surface it is； truly； full of cracks and hollows；
uninviting enough at first sight： let us look it round leisurely； to see if
there are not materials enough there for an hour's lecture。
The first object which strikes the eye is probably a group of milk…
white slugs； from two to six inches long； cuddling snugly together （Plate
IX。 fig。 1）。 You try to pull them off； and find that they give you some
trouble； such a firm hold have the delicate white sucking arms； which
fringe each of their five edges。 You see at the head nothing but a
yellow dimple； for eating and breathing are suspended till the return of
tide； but once settled in a jar of salt…water； each will protrude a large
chocolate…coloured head； tipped with a ring of ten feathery gills； looking
very much like a head of 〃curled kale；〃 but of the loveliest white and
primrose； in the centre whereof lies perdu a mouth with sturdy teeth … if
indeed they； as well as the whole inside of the beast； have not been
lately got rid of； and what you see be not a mere bag； without intestine or
other organ： but only for the time being。 For hear it； worn…out
epicures； and old Indians who bemoan your livers； this little Holothuria
knows a secret which； if he could tell it； you would be glad to buy of
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him for thousands sterling。 To him blue pill and muriatic acid are
superfluous； and travels to German Brunnen a waste of time。 Happy
Holothuria！ who possesses really the secret of everlasting youth； which
ancient fable bestowed on the serpent and the eagle。 For when his teeth
ache； or his digestive organs trouble him； all he has to do is just to cast
up forthwith his entire inside； and； faisant maigre for a month or so；
grow a fresh set； and then eat away as merrily as ever。 His name； if you
wish to consult so triumphant a hygeist； is Cucumaria Pentactes： but he
has many a stout cousin round the Scotch coast； who knows the
antibilious panacea as well as he； and submits； among the northern
fishermen； to the rather rude and undeserved name of sea…puddings； one
of which grows in Shetland to the enormous length of three feet；
rivalling there his huge congeners； who display their exquisite plumes on
every tropic coral reef。 （9）
Next； what are those bright little buds； like salmon…coloured Banksia
roses half expanded； sitting closely on the stone？ Touch them； the soft
part is retracted； and the orange flower of flesh is transformed into a pale
pink flower of stone。 That is the Madrepore； Caryophyllia Smithii
（Plate V。 fig。 2）； one of our south coast rarities： and see； on the lip of
the last one； which we have carefully scooped off with the chisel； two
little pink towers of stone； delicately striated； drop them into this small
bottle of sea…water； and from the top of each tower issues every half…
second … what shall we call it？ … a hand or a net of finest hairs；
clutching at something invisible to our grosser sense。 That is the
Pyrgoma； parasitic only （as far as we know） on the lip of this same rare
Madrepore； a little 〃cirrhipod；〃 the cousin of those tiny barnacles which
roughen every rock （a larger sort whereof I showed you on the
Turritella）； and of those larger ones also who burrow in the thick hide of
the whale； and； borne about upon his mighty sides； throw out their tiny
casting nets； as this Pyrgoma does； to catch every passing animalcule；
and sweep them into the jaws concealed within its shell。 And this
creature； rooted to one spot through life and death； was in its infancy a
free swimming animal； hovering from place to place upon delicate ciliae；
till； having sown its wild oats； it settled down in life； built itself a good
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stone house； and became a landowner； or rather a glebae adscriptus； for
ever and a day。 Mysterious destiny！ … yet not so mysterious as that of
the free medusoid young of every polype and coral； which ends as a
rooted tree of horn or stone； and seems to the eye of sensuous fancy to
have literally degenerated into a vegetable。 Of them you must read for
yourself in Mr。 Gosse's book； in the meanwhile he shall tell you
something of the beautiful Madrepores themselves。 His description；
（10） by far the best yet published； should be read in full； we must
content ourselves with extracts。
〃Doubtless you are familiar with the stony skeleton of our
Madrepore； as it appears in museums。 It consists of a number of thin
calcareous plates standing up edgewise； and arranged in a radia
