glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第13章
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which had escaped that rolling on the sand fatal in old age to its delicate
spines； and which equalled in colour； size； and perfectness the noble one
figured in poor dear old Dr。 Turton's 〃British Bivalves。〃 Besides；
aculeatum is a far thinner and more delicate shell。 And a third species；
C。 echinatum； with curves more graceful and continuous； is to be found
now and then with the two former。 In it； each point； instead of
degenerating into a knot； as in tuberculatum； or developing from delicate
flat briar… prickles into long straight thorns； as in aculeatum； is close…set
to its fellow； and curved at the point transversely to the shell； the whole
being thus horrid with hundreds of strong tenterhooks； making his castle
impregnable to the raveners of the deep。 For we can hardly doubt that
these prickles are meant as weapons of defence； without which so
savoury a morsel as the mollusc within （cooked and eaten largely on
some parts of our south coast） would be a staple article of food for sea…
beasts of prey。 And it is noteworthy； first； that the defensive thorns
which are permanent on the two thinner species； aculeatum and
echinatum； disappear altogether on the thicker one； tuberculatum； as old
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age gives him a solid and heavy globose shell； and next； that he too；
while young and tender； and liable therefore to be bored through by
whelks and such murderous univalves； does actually possess the same
briar… prickles； which his thinner cousins keep throughout life。
Nevertheless； prickles； in all three species； are； as far as we can see；
useless in Torbay； where no wolf…fish （Anarrhichas lupus） or other
owner of shell…crushing jaws wanders； terrible to lobster and to cockle。
Originally intended； as we suppose； to face the strong… toothed monsters of
the Mediterranean； these foreigners have wandered northward to shores
where their armour is not now needed； and yet centuries of idleness and
security have not been able to persuade them to lay it by。 This … if my
explanation is the right one … is but one more case among hundreds in
which peculiarities； useful doubtless to their original possessors； remain；
though now useless； in their descendants。 Just so does the tame ram
inherit the now superfluous horns of his primeval wild ancestors； though
he fights now … if he fights at all … not with his horns； but with his
forehead。
Enough of Cardium tuberculatum。 Now for the other animals of the
heap； and first； for those long white razors。 They； as well as the grey
scimitars； are Solens； Razor…fish （Solen siliqua and S。 ensis）； burrowers
in the sand by that foot which protrudes from one end； nimble in
escaping from the Torquay boys； whom you will see boring for them
with a long iron screw； on the sands at low tide。 They are very good to
eat； these razor…fish； at least； for those who so think them； and abound in
millions upon all our sandy shores。 （3）
Now for the tapering brown spires。 They are Turritellae； snail… like
animals （though the form of the shell is different）； who crawl and
browse by thousands on the beds of Zostera； or grass wrack； which you
see thrown about on the beach； and which grows naturally in two or
three fathoms water。 Stay： here is one which is 〃more than itself。〃
On its back is mounted a cluster of barnacles （Balanus Porcatus）； of the
same family as those which stud the tide…rocks in millions； scratching
the legs of hapless bathers。 Of them； I will speak presently； for I may
have a still more curious member of the family to show you。 But
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meanwhile； look at the mouth of the shell； a long grey worm protrudes
from it； which is not the rightful inhabitant。 He is dead long since； and
his place has been occupied by one Sipunculus Bernhardi； a wight of
low degree； who connects 〃radiate〃 with annulate forms … in plain
English； sea… cucumbers （of which we shall see some soon） with sea…
worms。 But however low in the scale of comparative anatomy； he has
wit enough to take care of himself； mean ugly little worm as he seems。
For finding the mouth of the Turritella too big for him； he has plastered
it up with sand and mud （Heaven alone knows how）； just as a wry…neck
plasters up a hole in an apple…tree when she intends to build therein； and
has left only a round hole； out of which he can poke his proboscis。 A
curious thing is this proboscis； when seen through the magnifier。 You
perceive a ring of tentacles round the mouth； for picking up I know not
what； and you will perceive； too； if you watch it； that when he draws it
in； he turns mouth； tentacles and all； inwards； and so down into his
stomach； just as if you were to turn the finger of a glove inward from the
tip till it passed into the hand； and so performs； every time he eats； the
clown's as yet ideal feat； of jumping down his own throat。 （4）
So much have we seen on one little shell。 But there is more to see
close to it。 Those yellow plants which I likened to squirrels' tails and
lobsters' horns； and what not； are zoophytes of different kinds。 Here is
Sertularia argentea （true squirrel's tail）； here； S。 filicula； as delicate as
tangled threads of glass； here； abietina； here； rosacea。 The lobsters'
horns are Antennaria antennina； and mingled with them are Plumulariae；
always to be distinguished from Sertulariae by polypes growing on one
side of the branch； and not on both。 Here is falcata； with its roots
twisted round a sea…weed。 Here is cristata； on the same weed； and here
is a piece of the beautiful myriophyllum； which has been battered in its
long journey out of the deep water about the ore rock。 For all these you
must consult Johnson's 〃Zoophytes；〃 and for a dozen smaller species；
which you would probably find tangled among them； or parasitic on the
sea…weed。 Here are Flustrae； or sea…mats。 This； which smells very
like Verbena； is Flustra coriacea （Pl。 I。 Fig。 2）。 That scurf on the frond
of ore…weed is F。 lineata （Pl。 Fig。 1）。 The glass bells twined about this
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Sertularia are Campanularia syringa （Pl。 I。 Fig。 9）； and he
