glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第4章
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what agent could possibly have produced either one or both of these
effects？
There is but one； and that； if you have been an Alpine traveller …
much more if you have been a Chamois hunter … you have seen many a
time （whether you knew it or not） at the very same work。
Ice？ Yes； ice； Hrymir the frost…giant； and no one else。 And if you
will look at the facts； you will see how ice may have done it。 Our friend
John Jones's report of plains and bogs and a lake above makes it quite
possible that in the 〃Ice age〃 （Glacial Epoch； as the big…word…mongers
call it） there was above that cliff a great neve； or snowfield； such as you
have seen often in the Alps at the head of each glacier。 Over the face of
this cliff a glacier has crawled down from that neve； polishing the face of
the rock in its descent： but the snow； having no large and deep outlet；
has not slid down in a sufficient stream to reach the vale below； and
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form a glacier of the first order； and has therefore stopped short on the
other side of the lake； as a glacier of the second order； which ends in an
ice…cliff hanging high up on the mountain side； and kept from further
progress by daily melting。 If you have ever gone up the Mer de Glace
to the Tacul； you saw a magnificent specimen of this sort on your right
hand； just opposite the Tacul； in the Glacier de Trelaporte； which comes
down from the Aiguille de Charmoz。
This explains our pebble…ridge。 The stones which the glacier
rubbed off the cliff beneath it it carried forward； slowly but surely； till
they saw the light again in the face of the ice…cliff； and dropped out of it
under the melting of the summer sun； to form a huge dam across the
ravine； till； the 〃Ice age〃 past； a more genial climate succeeded； and neve
and glacier melted away： but the 〃moraine〃 of stones did not； and
remains to this day； as the dam which keeps up the waters of the lake。
There is my explanation。 If you can find a better； do： but
remember always that it must include an answer to … 〃How did the
stones get across the lake？〃
Now； reader； we have had no abstruse science here； no long words；
not even a microscope or a book： and yet we； as two plain sportsmen；
have gone back； or been led back by fact and common sense； into the
most awful and sublime depths； into an epos of the destruction and re…
creation of a former world。
This is but a single instance； I might give hundreds。 This one；
nevertheless； may have some effect in awakening you to the boundless
world of wonders which is all around you； and make you ask yourself
seriously； 〃What branch of Natural History shall I begin to investigate； if
it be but for a few weeks； this summer？〃
To which I answer； Try 〃the Wonders of the Shore。〃 There are along
every sea…beach more strange things to be seen； and those to be seen
easily； than in any other field of observation which you will find in these
islands。 And on the shore only will you have the enjoyment of finding
new species； of adding your mite to the treasures of science。
For not only the English ferns； but the natural history of all our land
species； are now well…nigh exhausted。 Our home botanists and
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ornithologists are spending their time now； perforce； in verifying a few
obscure species； and bemoaning themselves； like Alexander； that there
are no more worlds left to conquer。 For the geologist； indeed； and the
entomologist； especially in the remoter districts； much remains to be
done； but only at a heavy outlay of time； labour； and study； and the
dilettante （and it is for dilettanti； like myself； that I principally write）
must be content to tread in the tracks of greater men who have preceded
him； and accept at second or third hand their foregone conclusions。
But this is most unsatisfactory； for in giving up discovery； one gives
up one of the highest enjoyments of Natural History。 There is a
mysterious delight in the discovery of a new species； akin to that of
seeing for the first time； in their native haunts； plants or animals of
which one has till then only read。 Some； surely； who read these pages
have experienced that latter delight； and； though they might find it hard
to define whence the pleasure arose； know well that it was a solid
pleasure； the memory of which they would not give up for hard cash。
Some； surely； can recollect； at their first sight of the Alpine Soldanella；
the Rhododendron； or the black Orchis； growing upon the edge of the
eternal snow； a thrill of emotion not unmixed with awe； a sense that they
were； as it were； brought face to face with the creatures of another world；
that Nature was independent of them； not merely they of her； that trees
were not merely made to build their houses； or herbs to feed their cattle；
as they looked on those wild gardens amid the wreaths of the untrodden
snow； which had lifted their gay flowers to the sun year after year since
the foundation of the world； taking no heed of man； and all the coil
which he keeps in the valleys far below。
And even； to take a simpler instance； there are those who will excuse；
or even approve of； a writer for saying that； among the memories of a
month's eventful tour； those which stand out as beacon…points； those
round which all the others group themselves； are the first wolf…track by
the road…side in the Kyllwald； the first sight of the blue and green Roller…
birds； walking behind the plough like rooks in the tobacco…fields of
Wittlich； the first ball of Olivine scraped out of the volcanic slag…heaps
of the Dreisser… Weiher； the first pair of the Lesser Bustard flushed upon
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the downs of the Mosel…kopf； the first sight of the cloud of white
Ephemerae； fluttering in the dusk like a summer snowstorm between us
and the black cliffs of the Rheinstein； while the broad Rhine beneath
flashed blood…red in the blaze of the lightning and the fires of the
Mausenthurm … a lurid Acheron above which seemed to hover ten
thousand unburied ghosts； and last； but not least； on the lip of the vast
Mosel…kopf crater … just above the point where the weight of the fiery
lake has burst the side of the great slag…cup； and rushed forth between
two cliffs of clink…stone across the downs； in a clanging stream of fire；
damming up rivulets； and blasting its path through forests； far away
toward the valley of the Moselle … the sight of an object for which was
forgotten for the moment that battle…field of the Titans at our feet； and
the glorious panorama； Hundsruck and Taunus； Siebengebirge and
Ardennes； and all the crater peaks around； and which was … smile not；
reader … our first yellow foxglove。
But what is even this to the delight of finding a new species？ … of
rescuing （as it seems to you） one more thought of the Divine mind from
Hela； and the realms of the unknown； unclassified； uncomprehended？
As it seems to you： though in reality it only seems so； in a world
wherein not a sparrow falls to the ground unnoticed by our Father who is
in heaven。
The truth is； the pleasure of finding new species is too great； it is
morally dangerous； for it brings with it the temptation to look on the
thing found as your own possession； all but your own creation； to pride
yourself on it； as if God had not known it for ages since； even to
squabble jealously for the right of having it named after you； and of
being recorded in the Transactions of I… know…not…what Society as its first
discoverer：… as if all the angels in heaven had not been admiring it； long
before you were born or thought of。
But to be forewarned is to be forearmed； and I seriously counsel you
to try if you cannot find something new this summer along the coast to
which you are going。 There is no reason why you should not be so
successful as a friend of mine who； with a very slight smattering of
science； and very desultory research； obtained in one winter from the
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Torbay shores three entirely new species； beside several rare animals
which had escaped all naturalists since the lynx…eye of Colonel Montagu
discerned them forty years ago。
And do not despise the creatures because they are minute。 No doubt
