glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第30章
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about three inches long； standing up out of the sand。 I do not mean the
tubes of the Terebella； so common in all sands； which are somewhat
flexible； and have their upper end fringed with a ragged ring of sandy
arms： those I speak of are straight and stiff； and ending in a point
upward。 Draw them out of the sand … they will offer some resistance …
and put them into a vase of water； you will see the worm inside expand
two delicate golden combs； just like old…fashioned back…hair combs； of a
metallic lustre； which will astonish you。 With these combs the worm
seems to burrow head downward into the sand； but whether he always
remains in that attitude I cannot say。 His name is Pectinaria Belgica。
He is an Annelid； or true worm； connected with the Serpulea and
Sabellae of which I have spoken already； and holds himself in his case
like them； by hooks and bristles set on each ring of his body。 In
confinement he will probably come out of his case and die； when you
may dissect him at your leisure； and learn a great deal more about him
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thereby than （I am sorry to say） I know。
But if you have courage to run out fifteen or twenty miles to the
Diamond； you may find really rare and valuable animals。 There is a
risk； of course； of being blown over to the coast of France； by a change
of wind； there is a risk also of not being able to land at night on the
inhospitable Hastings beach； and of sleeping； as best you can； on board：
but in the long days and settled fine weather of summer； the trip； in a
stout boat； ought to be a safe and a pleasant one。
On the Diamond you will find many； or most of those gay creatures
which attract your eye in the central row of tanks at the Zoological
Gardens： great twisted masses of Serpulae； （26） those white tubes of
stone； from the mouth of which protrude pairs of rose…coloured or
orange fans； flashing in； quick as light； the moment that your finger
approaches them or your shadow crosses the water。
You will dredge； too； the twelve…rayed sun…star （Solaster papposa）；
with his rich scarlet armour； and more strange； and quite as beautiful； the
bird's foot star （Palmipes membranaceus）； which you may see crawling
by its thousand sucking…feet in the Crystal Palace tanks； a pentagonal
webbed bird's foot； of scarlet and orange shagreen。 With him； most
probably； will be a specimen of the great purple heart…urchin （Spatangus
purpureus）； clothed in pale lilac horny spines； and other Echinoderms；
for which you must consult Forbes's 〃British Star…fishes：〃 but perhaps
the species among them which will interest you most； will be the
common brittle…star （Ophiocoma rosula）； of which a hundred or so； I can
promise； shall come up at a single haul of the dredge； entwining their
long spine… clad arms in a seemingly inextricable confusion of
〃kaleidoscope〃 patterns （thanks to Mr。 Gosse for the one right epithet）；
purple and azure； fawn； brown； green； grey； white and crimson； as if a
whole bed of China…asters should have first come to life； and then gone
mad； and fallen to fighting。 But pick out； one by one； specimens from
the tangled mass； and you will agree that no China… aster is so fair as this
living stone…flower of the deep； with its daisy…like disc； and fine long
prickly arms； which never cease their graceful serpentine motion； and its
colours hardly alike in any two specimens。 Handle them not；
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meanwhile； too roughly； lest； whether modesty or in anger； they begin a
desperate course of gradual suicide； and； breaking off arm after arm
piecemeal； fling them indignantly at their tormentor。 Along with these
you will certainly obtain a few of that fine bivalve； the great Scallop；
which you have seen lying on every fishmonger's counter in Hastings。
Of these you must pick out those which seem dirtiest and most
overgrown with parasites； and place them carefully in a jar of salt water；
where they may not be rubbed； for they are worth your examination； not
merely for the sake of that ring of gem…like eyes which borders their
〃cloak；〃 lying along the extreme out edge of the shell as the valves are
half open； but for the sake of the parasites outside： corallines of
exquisite delicacy； Plumulariae and Sertulariae； dead men's hands
（Alcyonia）； lumps of white or orange jelly； which will protrude a
thousand star…like polypes； and the Tubularia indivisa； twisted tubes of
fine straw； which ought already to have puzzled you； for you may pick
them up in considerable masses on the Hastings beach after a south…west
gale； and think long over them before you determine whether the oat…
like stems and spongy roots belong to an animal； or a vegetable。
Animals they are； nevertheless； though even now you will hardly guess
the fact； when you see at the mouth of each tube a little scarlet flower；
connected with the pink pulp which fills the tube。 For a further
description of this largest and handsomest of our Hydroid Polypes； I
must refer you to Johnston； or； failing him； to Landsborough； and go on；
to beg you not to despise those pink； or grey； or white lumps of jelly；
which will expand in salt water into exquisite sea…anemones； of quite
different forms from any which we have found along the rocks。 One of
them will certainly be the Dianthus； （27） which will open into a
furbelowed flower； furred with innumerable delicate tentacula； and in
the centre a mouth of the most delicate orange； the size of the whole
animal being perhaps eight inches high and five across。 Perhaps it will
be of a satiny grey； perhaps pale rose； perhaps pure white； whatever its
colour； it is the very maiden queen of all the beautiful tribe； and one of
the loveliest gems with which it has pleased God to bedeck this lower
world。
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These and much more you will find on the scallops； or even more
plen
