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（who find everything； and will at last certainly catch Midgard； the
great sea…serpent； as Thor did； by baiting for him with a bull's
head）； have dredged them in great numbers； the former； at Helford
in Cornwall； the latter on the west coast of Scotland。 It seems；
however； to be a southern monster； probably a remnant； like the
great cockle； of the Mediterranean fauna； for Mr。 MacAndrew finds
them plentifully in Vigo Bay； and J。 M乴ler in the Adriatic； off
Trieste。
But what is it like？ Conceive a very fat short earth…worm； not
ringed； though； like the earth…worm； but smooth and glossy； dappled
with darker spots； especially on one side； which may be the upper
one。 Put round its mouth twelve little arms； on each a hand with
four ragged fingers； and on the back of the hand a stump of a
thumb； and you have Synapta Digitata （Plates IV。 and V。； from my
drawings of the live animal）。 These hands it puts down to its
mouth； generally in alternate pairs； but how it obtains its food by
them is yet a mystery； for its intestines are filled； like an
earth…worm's； with the mud in which it lives； and from which it
probably extracts （as does the earth…worm） all organic matters。
You will find it stick to your fingers by the whole skin； causing；
if your hand be delicate； a tingling sensation； and if you examine
the skin under the microscope； you will find the cause。 The whole
skin is studded with minute glass anchors； some hanging freely from
the surface； but most imbedded in the skin。 Each of these anchors
is jointed at its root into one end of a curious cribriform plate；
… in plain English； one pierced like a sieve； which lies under the
skin； and reminds one of the similar plates in the skin of the
White Cucumaria； which I will show you 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 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 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 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； ro