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the cool of the day。〃
One sight more； and we have done。 I had something to say； had time
permitted； on the ludicrous element which appears here and there in
nature。 There are animals； like monkeys and crabs； which seem made
to be laughed at； by those at least who possess that most
indefinable of faculties； the sense of the ridiculous。 As long as
man possesses muscles especially formed to enable him to laugh； we
have no right to suppose （with some） that laughter is an accident
of our fallen nature； or to find （with others） the primary cause of
the ridiculous in the perception of unfitness or disharmony。 And
yet we shrink （whether rightly or wrongly； we can hardly tell） from
attributing a sense of the ludicrous to the Creator of these forms。
It may be a weakness on my part； at least I will hope it is a
reverent one： but till we can find something corresponding to what
we conceive of the Divine Mind in any class of phenomena； it is
perhaps better not to talk about them at all； but observe a stoic
〃epoche；〃 waiting for more light； and yet confessing that our own
laughter is uncontrollable； and therefore we hope not unworthy of
us； at many a strange creature and strange doing which we meet；
from the highest ape to the lowest polype。
But； in the meanwhile； there are animals in which results so
strange； fantastic； even seemingly horrible； are produced； that
fallen man may be pardoned； if he shrinks from them in disgust。
That； at least； must be a consequence of our own wrong state； for
everything is beautiful and perfect in its place。 It may be
answered； 〃Yes； in its place； but its place is not yours。 You had
no business to look at it； and must pay the penalty for
intermeddling。〃 I doubt that answer； for surely； if man have
liberty to do anything； he has liberty to search out freely his
heavenly Father's works； and yet every one seems to have his
antipathic animal； and I know one bred from his childhood to
zoology by land and sea； and bold in asserting； and honest in
feeling； that all without exception is beautiful； who yet cannot；
after handling and petting and admiring all day long every uncouth
and venomous beast； avoid a paroxysm of horror at the sight of the
common house…spider。 At all events； whether we were intruding or
not； in turning this stone； we must pay a fine for having done so；
for there lies an animal as foul and monstrous to the eye as
〃hydra； gorgon； or chimaera dire；〃 and yet so wondrously fitted to
its work； that we must needs endure for our own instruction to
handle and to look at it。 Its name； if you wish for it； is
Nemertes； probably N。 Borlasii； （18） a worm of very 〃low〃
organization； though well fitted enough for its own work。 You see
it？ That black； shiny； knotted lump among the gravel； small enough
to be taken up in a dessert spoon。 Look now； as it is raised and
its coils drawn out。 Three feet … six … nine； at least： with a
capability of seemingly endless expansion； a slimy tape of living
caoutchouc； some eighth of an inch in diameter； a dark chocolate…
black； with paler longitudinal lines。 Is it alive？ It hangs；
helpless and motionless； a mere velvet string across the hand。 Ask
the neighbouring Annelids and the fry of the rock fishes； or put it
into a vase at home； and see。 It lies motionless； trailing itself
among the gravel； you cannot tell where it begins or ends； it may
be a dead strip of sea…weed； Himanthalia lorea； perhaps； or Chorda
filum； or even a tarred string。 So thinks the little fish who
plays over and over it； till he touches at last what is too surely
a head。 In an instant a bell…shaped sucker mouth has fastened to
his side。 In another instant； from one lip； a concave double
proboscis； just like a tapir's （another instance of the repetition
of forms）； has clasped him like a finger； and now begins the
struggle： but in vain。 He is being 〃played〃 with such a fishing…
line as the skill of a Wilson or a Stoddart never could invent； a
living line； with elasticity beyond that of the most delicate fly…
rod； which follows every lunge； shortening and lengthening；
slipping and twining round every piece of gravel and stem of sea…
weed； with a tiring drag such as no Highland wrist or step could
ever bring to bear on salmon or on trout。 The victim is tired now；
and slowly； and yet dexterously； his blind assailant is feeling and
shifting along his side； till he reaches one end of him； and then
the black lips expand； and slowly and surely the curved finger
begins packing him end…foremost down into the gullet； where he
sinks； inch by inch； till the swelling which marks his place is
lost among the coils； and he is probably macerated to a pulp long
before he has reached the opposite extremity of his cave of doom。
Once safe down； the black murderer slowly contracts again into a
knotted heap； and lies； like a boa with a stag inside him；
motionless and blest。 （19）
There； we must come away now； for the tide is over our ankles； but
touch； before you go； one of those little red mouths which peep out
of the stone。 A tiny jet of water shoots up almost into your face。
The bivalve （20） who has burrowed into the limestone knot （the
softest part of the stone to his jaws； though the hardest to your
chisel） is scandalized at having the soft mouths of his siphons so
rudely touched； and taking your finger for some bothering Annelid；
who wants to nibble him； is defending himself； shooting you； as
naturalists do humming…birds； with water。 Let him rest in peace；
it will cost you ten minutes' hard work； and much dirt； to extract
him； but if you are fond of shells； secure one or two of those
beautiful pink and straw…coloured scallops （Hinnites pusio； Plate
X。 fig。 1）； who have gradually incorporated the layers of their
lower valve with the roughnesses of the stone； destroying thereby
the beautiful form which belongs to their race； but not their
delicate colour。 There are a few more bivalves too； adhering to
the stone； and those rare ones； and two or three delicate Mangeliae
and Nassae （21） are trailing their graceful spires up and down in
search of food。 That little bright red and yellow pea； too； touch
it … the brilliant coloured cloak is withdrawn； and； instead； you
have a beautiful ribbed pink cowry； （22） our only European
representative of that grand tropical family。 Cast one wondering
glance； too； at the forest of zoophytes and corals； Lepraliae and
Flustrae； and those quaint blue stars； set in brown jelly； which
are no zoophytes； but respectable molluscs； each with his well…
formed mouth and intestines； （23） but combined in a peculiar form
of Communism； of which all one can say is； that one hopes they like
it； and that； at all events； they agree better than the heroes and
heroines of Mr。 Hawthorne's 〃Blithedale Romance。〃
Now away； and as a specimen of the fertility of the water…world；
look at this rough list of species； （24） the greater part of which
are on this very stone； and all of which you might obtain in an
hour； would the rude tide wait for zoologists： and remember that
the number of individuals of each species of polype must be counted
by tens of thousands； and also； that； by searching the forest of
sea…weeds which covers the upper surface； we should probably obtain
some twenty minute species more。
A goodly catalogue this； surely； of the inhabitants of three or
four large stones； and yet how small a specimen of the
multitudinous nations of the sea！
From the bare rocks above high…water mark； down to abysses deeper
than ever plummet sounded； is life； everywhere life； fauna after
fauna； and flora after flora； arranged in zones； according to the
amount of light and warmth which each species requires； and to the
amount of pressure which they are able to endure。 The crevices of
the highest rocks； only sprinkled with salt spray in spring…tides
and high gales； have their peculiar little univalves； their crisp
lichen…like sea…weed； in myriads； lower down； the region of the
Fuci （bladder…weeds） has its own tribes of periwinkles and limpets；
below again； about the neap…tide mark； the region of the corallines
and Algae furnishes food for yet other species who graze on its
watery meadows； and beneath all； only uncovered at low spring…tide；
the zone of the Laminariae （the great tangles and ore…weeds） is
most full of all of every imaginable form of life。 So that as we
descend the rocks； we may compare ourselves （likening small things
to great） to those who； descending the Andes； pass in a single day
from the vegetation of the Arctic zone to that of the Tropics。 And
here and there； even at half…tide level； deep rock…basins； shaded
from the sun and always full of water； keep up in a higher zone the
vegetation of a lower one； and afford in nature an analogy to