glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第23章
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resemblance； quaint as it is； is only sensuous and accidental； （in the
logical use of that term；） and not homological； I。E。 a lower manifestation
of the same idea。 Yet how is one tempted to say； that this was Nature's
first and lowest attempt at that use of hollow globes of mineral for
protecting soft fleshy parts； which she afterwards developed to such
perfection in the skulls of vertebrate animals！ But even that conceit；
pretty as it sounds； will not hold good； for though Radiates similar to
these were among the earliest tenants of the abyss； yet as early as their
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time； perhaps even before them； had been conceived and actualized； in
the sharks； and in Mr。 Hugh Miller's pets the old red sandstone fishes；
that very true vertebrate skull and brain； of which this is a mere mockery。
（14） Here the whole animal； with his extraordinary feeding mill； （for
neither teeth nor jaws is a fit word for it；） is enclosed within an ever…
growing limestone castle； to the architecture of which the Eddystone and
the Crystal Palace are bungling heaps； without arms or legs； eyes or ears；
and yet capable； in spite of his perpetual imprisonment； of walking；
feeding； and breeding； doubt it not； merrily enough。 But this result has
been attained at the expense of a complication of structure； which has
baffled all human analysis and research into final causes。 As much
concerning this most miraculous of families as is needful to be known；
and ten times more than you are likely to understand； may be read in
Harvey's 〃Sea…Side Book；〃 pp。 142… 148； … pages from which you will
probably arise with a sense of the infinity and complexity of Nature；
even in what we are pleased to call her 〃lower〃 forms； and the simplest
and； as it were； easiest forms of life。 Conceive a Crystal Palace； （for
mere difference in size； as both the naturalist and the metaphysician
know； has nothing to do with the wonder；） whereof each separate joist；
girder； and pane grows continually without altering the shape of the
whole； and you have conceived only one of the miracles embodied in
that little sea…egg； which the Creator has； as it were； to justify to man His
own immutability； furnished with a shell capable of enduring fossil for
countless ages； that we may confess Him to have been as great when
first His Spirit brooded on the deep； as He is now and will be through all
worlds to come。
But we must make haste； for the tide is rising fast； and our stone will
be restored to its eleven hours' bath； long before we have talked over
half the wonders which it holds。 Look though； ere you retreat； at one or
two more。
What is that little brown thing whom you have just taken off the rock
to which it adhered so stoutly by his sucking…foot？ A limpet？ Not at
all： he is of quite a different family and structure； but； on the whole； a
limpet…like shell would suit him well enough； so he had one given him：
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nevertheless； owing to certain anatomical peculiarities； he needed one
aperture more than a limpet； so one； if you will examine； has been given
him at the top of his shell。 （15） This is one instance among a thousand
of the way in which a scientific knowledge of objects must not obey； but
run counter to； the impressions of sense； and of a custom in nature which
makes this caution so necessary； namely； the repetition of the same form；
slightly modified； in totally different animals； sometimes as if to avoid
waste； （for why should not the same conception be used in two different
cases； if it will suit in both？） and sometimes （more marvellous by far）
when an organ； fully developed and useful in one species； appears in a
cognate species but feeble； useless； and； as it were； abortive； and
gradually； in species still farther removed； dies out altogether； placed
there； it would seem； at first sight； merely to keep up the family likeness。
I am half jesting； that cannot be the only reason； perhaps not the reason
at all； but the fact is one of the most curious； and notorious also； in
comparative anatomy。
Look； again； at those sea…slugs。 One； some three inches long； of a
bright lemon…yellow； clouded with purple； another of a dingy grey； （16）
another exquisite little creature of a pearly French White； （17） furred all
over the back with what seem arms； but are really gills； of ringed white
and grey and black。 Put that yellow one into water； and from his head；
above the eyes； arise two serrated horns； while from the after…part of his
back springs a circular Prince…of…Wales's…feather of gills； … they are
almost exactly like those which we saw just now in the white Cucumaria。
Yes； here is another instance of the same custom of repetition。 The
Cucumaria is a low radiate animal … the sea…slug a far higher mollusc；
and every organ within him is formed on a different type； as indeed are
those seemingly identical gills； if you come to examine them under the
microscope； having to oxygenate fluids of a very different and more
complicated kind； and； moreover； the Cucumaria's gills were put round
his mouth； the Doris's feathers round the other extremity； that grey
Eolis's； again； are simple clubs； scattered over his whole back； and in
each of his nudibranch congeners these same gills take some new and
fantastic form； in Melibaea those clubs are covered with warts； in
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Scyllaea； with tufted bouquets； in the beautiful Antiopa they are
transparent bags； and in many other English species they take every
conceivable form of leaf； tree； flower； and branch； bedecked with every
colour of the rainbow； as you may see them depicted in Messrs。 Alder
and Hancock's unrivalled Monograph on the Nudibranch Mollusca。
And now； worshipper of final causes and the mere useful in nature；
answer but one question； … Why this prodigal variety？ All these
Nudibranchs live in much the same way： why would not the same
mould have done for them all？ And why； again； （f
