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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
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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；〃 b