glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第25章
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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
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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
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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 those deep 〃barrancos〃 which
split the high table…land of Mexico； down whose awful cliffs； swept by
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cool sea…breezes； the traveller looks from among the plants and animals
of the temperate zone； and sees far below； dim through their everlasting
vapour…bath of rank hot steam； the mighty forms and gorgeous colours
of a tropic forest。
〃I do not wonder；〃 says Mr。 Gosse； in his charming 〃Naturalist's
Rambles on the Devonshire Coast〃 （p。 187）； 〃that when Southey had an
opportunity of seeing some of those beautiful quiet basins hollowed in
the living rock； and stocked with elegant plants and animals； having all
the charm of novelty to his eye； they should have moved his poetic fancy；
and found more than one place in the gorgeous imagery of his Oriental
romances。 Just listen to him
〃It was a garden still beyond all
