Shanklin continued.—Siphonia, or Sea-Tulip.—Zoophytes.—Sponges.
—Corals.—Shells—Anomia—Scallop-shell—Cockle-shell—Whelk—Solen,
or Razor-shell—Mactra, or Kneading Trough—Mya.
The first thing Agnes thought of the following morning was her mamma’s
promise to take her again to the beach to pick up the shells and
sea-weed which she had been compelled to leave behind her the preceding
day. Mrs. Merton thought it prudent to stay till the tide was in and
had begun to turn, in order that they might explore the cliffs as far
as they felt inclined without danger; and it may be easily guessed that
Agnes grew rather impatient at the length of time she had to wait.
Fortunately, however, there was a beautiful little garden attached to
the inn, in which, with the aid of two or three dogs, a kitten, and,
what was better than all, a little girl of about her own age, who was
also travelling with her parents through the island, Agnes contrived to
amuse herself till her mamma was ready. Before proceeding to the beach
it was necessary to purchase a basket, and for this purpose they
entered the bazaar which they had seen the day before. Agnes had some
difficulty in finding a basket to suit her, as the pretty ones were all
far too small to hold the quantity of sea-weed and other things she
intended to bring from the beach; and it was with the greatest
difficulty that her mamma could persuade her to be satisfied with a
basket of moderate size, though even that Mrs. Merton feared when full
would be much too heavy for the little girl to carry. Just as they were
leaving the bazaar the woman showed them a curious specimen of the
Siphonia, or Sea-Tulip, which she said had been picked up on the beach.
The siphonia was intermixed with various fossil remains, and the whole
presented so singular an appearance that Agnes, who had never seen any
thing of the kind before, could talk of nothing else while they were
descending to the beach.
“What a curious thing the sea-tulip is,” said she. “Is it a plant, and
are there any like it growing now?”
“It is not a plant,” said Mrs. Merton, “but a zoophyte, and I believe
it has only been found in a fossil state.”
[Illustration:
_Fig. 23._
MASS OF FOSSILS CONTAINING THE SIPHONIA, or SEA-TULIP.
]
“Zoophyte!” said Agnes; “that is half a plant, and half an animal, is
it not, mamma?”
“The word zoophyte,” returned Mrs. Merton, “signifies literally an
animal plant; and it was formerly applied only to those singular
creatures which grew in the ground like plants, and were yet furnished
with tentacula or arms which they could extend or contract so as to
provide themselves with food. But it is now used in a more enlarged
sense, and it includes various kinds of polypes, animalcules and other
animals of the lowest class. Some of these creatures seem to consist
merely of semitransparent jelly, and when disturbed they contract
themselves into almost shapeless lumps.”
“Have I ever seen any of these animalcules?” asked Agnes.
“You probably have without being aware of it,” returned her mother:
“for in summer when the sun is warm they may generally be seen in ponds
and slowly running waters, looking like little lumps of transparent
jelly, and hanging to plants or any other object that may be in the
water.”
“I think I have seen them, then,” said Agnes; “but I had no idea that
they were living creatures.”
“And yet,” returned her mother, “if you were to take one of these
jelly-like lumps, not larger than a small pea, and examine it in a
powerful microscope, you would find that it possessed six or more arms,
which it has the power of stretching out in an extraordinary manner, so
as to seize any insect that may come in their way, and which they
convey to an opening in the centre of the polypus, which serves as its
mouth, and which leads directly to the stomach.”
“Ah, mamma!” said Agnes, “then these creatures are polypes. I have been
frequently going to ask you what kind of creatures they were, ever
since papa was reading to us that curious account of the manner in
which they form islands in the Australian Seas. But surely,” continued
she, after thinking for a moment, “these soft jelly-like looking
animals cannot possibly form any thing so hard as coral!”
“It is, indeed,” replied Mrs. Merton, “extremely difficult for us to
conceive that animals so simple and jelly-like can form solid stone;
but the way in which it is effected is, that the creature has the power
of depositing, in a solid form, the earthy matter which is continually
floating in the waters of the ocean, and which it swallows with its
daily food.”
While Agnes and her mamma were thus speaking they continued descending
the cliffs till they came to the part where the road turns, and leaves
a little level space before it again descends. Just at this place they
found an old woman sitting at a kind of stall covered with shells and
various kinds of fossils; and Agnes, whose curiosity was always easily
excited, stopped to look at them.
“I wish we could find any polypes here,” said she to her mamma.
“It is impossible,” said Mrs. Merton, “to find any here in a living
state; but you may see some of their labours in these curious specimens
of sponge.”
“Sponge, mamma?” cried Agnes. “Surely you do not mean to say that the
polypes form sponge as well as coral!”
[Illustration:
_Fig. 24._
SPONGES.
]
“Indeed I do,” said Mrs. Merton, “for though sponge was once supposed
to be a marine plant, it has long since been discovered to be an
animal. About the year 1752 a gentleman, named Ellis, was at Brighton
forming a collection of marine plants for the instruction of some part
of the Royal Family in botany, and amongst other things he collected
some curious specimens of sponges, which he examined through a powerful
microscope with a view to obtain a knowledge of some peculiarities
which he considered necessary to be ascertained before they could be
properly classified. By this examination he discovered that the sponges
possessed a system of vessels through which the sea-water circulated,
and which opened by means of innumerable pores. Subsequent examinations
proved that what we call sponge may be compared to the shell of the
snail or the oyster, and that it acts as a covering to the jelly-like
animal or animals which reside in it, being as necessary to them as
shells are to the molluscous animals. Mr. Ellis, after making these
discoveries, examined different kinds of coral, and found that they
were also furnished with pores containing animals, the tentacula or
feelers of which were continually expanding and contracting as if
seeking and seizing prey.”
“How very curious!” cried Agnes; “and what do these creatures live
upon?”
“Probably,” returned her mamma, “on some animalcules contained in the
water, the forms of which are too minute to be visible to human eyes
even though aided by powerful microscopes.”
“I can easily imagine they must be very small,” said Agnes, “as the
creatures which feed upon them are so little themselves. But I think I
have seen the pores in the coral.”
“I have no doubt you have,” said Mrs. Merton; “the pores in some of the
kinds of sponge are also quite large enough to be visible to the naked
eye.”
“But where is sponge found, mamma?” asked Agnes.
“It is generally collected from rocks in the sea,” replied Mrs. Merton,
“about twenty or thirty feet deep, by divers, who in time become very
expert in obtaining it. It grows so rapidly, that it is said rocks have
been found covered with it that were completely cleared only two years
before.”
“What kinds of coral are these mamma?” said Agnes, picking up two or
three pieces which lay upon the stall.
[Illustration:
_Fig. 25._
CORALS.
]
“I do not know the names of all of them,” said Mrs. Merton; “but I
believe that kind which looks as though it were formed of small beads
is called the chain coral, or Catenipora; and that other kind which
appears covered with star-like flowers is called Aulopora.”
[Illustration:
_Fig. 26._
SADDLE-SHAPED ANOMIA.
]
Agnes’s attention was now caught by some shells, and she begged her
mamma to purchase for her a beautiful little Scallop-shell which was
streaked with reddish bands, delicately shaded off into white; and also
one of those shells which are called Anomia. They then proceeded on
their walk, and as they descended the remaining cliffs Agnes asked her
mamma what the use was of the hole in the upper valve of the anomia.
“It is that,” said Mrs. Merton, “which has given rise to the popular
English name of the Antique Lamp, by which the shell is generally
known, as it resembles the opening through which the flame of the
ancient lamps used to ascend; but its real use is to admit the passing
through it of a strong muscle, at the end of which is a calcareous
mass, by means of which the animal contained in the shell attaches
itself to the rocks. Where the creature has fixed itself, it cannot be
pulled off without killing it; but when it wishes, it possesses the
power of drawing its muscle into the shell so as to close the hole in
the upper valve with the calcareous mass, which exactly fits it.”
Agnes did not reply to this, and after a short silence her mamma asked
her if she did not wish to know any particulars respecting the other
shell they had purchased.
“Oh no!” said Agnes, carelessly, “as it is only a common scallop, I
suppose I know all that you can tell me about that.”
“Indeed!” said Mrs. Merton, “and pray may I ask how much you do know
about it?”
Agnes was about to speak, but after considering a moment, she
hesitated, stammered, and at last said, “it is such a common shell.”
“But what particulars do you know about it?” persisted Mrs. Merton.
“Everybody knows a scallop-shell,” said Agnes.
“Everybody may easily know it as well as you do apparently,” said Mrs.
Merton; “for the fact is that you appear to know nothing of it but its
name; and yet there are some particulars respecting the animal of the
pecten or scallop which are extremely interesting. For instance, you
are probably not aware that it possesses the power of leaping; and that
a basket full of scallops just caught, which was set down on the beach,
was found speedily emptied of its contents by the pectens springing out
of it and returning to the water. The animal of the scallop has also
the power of making such frequent and sudden contractions of its
muscles as to force itself rapidly forward through the water; and,
indeed, a recent writer on the subject tells us, that it requires
considerable agility to catch it as it flutters among the corals where
it dwells. The name of pecten, which signifies a comb, was given to the
scallop-shell from a supposed resemblance in the fluting of the shell
to the teeth of a comb. The scallop-shell was formerly the badge of
pilgrims who had been to the Holy Land, and was worn on their caps and
cloaks.”
[Illustration:
_Fig. 27._
SCALLOP SHELL.
]
They had now reached the beach, and Agnes was in such high spirits,
that, though she was encumbered with her large basket, she could not
refrain from running backwards and forwards several times, just as we
often see little dogs do, who never seem thoroughly to enjoy a walk
unless they are permitted to make it twice or three times as long as it
ought to be.
Agnes ran round a projecting cliff so that her mother lost sight of
her. She soon, however, came running back with two or three
Cockle-shells in her hand. “Look mamma!” cried she, “what I have found!”
“Nothing very remarkable, certainly,” said Mrs. Merton, smiling; “for I
believe the cockle-shell is common on the sea-beach in every part of
the world. Yet something interesting may be told even of this common
shell. In the first place it is what is called a bivalve, that is, the
shell is in two parts, or valves, like those of the oyster and the
scallop, the two parts being united by a hinge, formed by two
projecting teeth in the centre, and two side teeth.”
“But what do you call teeth, mamma!”
“Look, here are two projecting parts with a hollow part between. The
projecting parts are called the teeth, and you see they are so placed
that the teeth of one valve fit into the hollow part of the other. The
creature, which is something like an oyster, and is eaten, can open and
shut these valves at pleasure, and it can push out a long elbow-like
part of its body and spring forward to a considerable distance when it
wishes to leave the sand and return to the sea. Look, too, how
delicately this valve that you have found, is ribbed, and observe the
form of the shell. You see it bears some resemblance to a heart, and
hence the scientific name of the genus is Cardium, which signifies a
heart.”
[Illustration:
_Fig. 28._
WHELK (_Buccinum undatum_).
]
Agnes now picked up another shell, and her mother smiled when she
discovered that it was a Whelk, or Buckie. “My dear Agnes,” said she,
“you certainly cannot boast of finding any very rare shells in your
travels; for the whelk is nearly as common as the cockle. However,
there is a material difference between them, for the whelk, or
buccinum, is a univalve, that is, its shell is only in one part, like
that of the snail. Look at this shell, and you will perceive a curious
little notch at the lower end; and when there is this mark we know that
the animal inhabiting the shell is carnivorous, that is, it lives on
other creatures of its own kind. The common garden snail, which, you
know, lives on vegetables, has no notch.”
Agnes now saw several shells lying scattered about, but she scarcely
condescended to look at them, till at last, one appeared so curious
that she could not help calling her mamma’s attention to it. It was a
long narrow shell, something resembling the handle of a pocket knife.
What she picked up, however, was only the half of what was evidently a
bivalve-shell, and to Agnes’s great annoyance, it was by no means
perfect. Mrs. Merton, however, told her that it was what was called a
Solen, or Razor-shell, or, sometimes, a Sheath-shell, from its
resemblance to the handle, or sheath of a razor. She also showed her
the hinge that united the two valves together, and which, though very
slight, was curiously formed.
While Mrs. Merton was speaking, Agnes saw another shell nearly similar
to the first, but smaller and prettier, and the little girl ran with
great delight to pick it up. Just before she reached it, however, she
saw it raise itself on one end, and then instantly disappear in the
sand.
[Illustration:
_Fig. 29._
TRUNCATED GAPER.
SOLEN, OR RAZOR-SHELL.
COMMON COCKLE.
THE KNEADING TROUGH.
]
It is scarcely possible to express the astonishment and almost terror
which seized Agnes at this sight; and she ran back to her mamma almost
too frightened to ask the cause of what she had seen. Her mamma,
however, explained to her that it was the nature of the animals
belonging to these shells to bury themselves in the sand when they were
alarmed; and she added, that the disappearance of the shell was a
certain proof that it was inhabited.
“Oh mamma!” cried Agnes, “how I should like to see the animal. Can’t we
get it up out of the sand without hurting it?”
“I am afraid not,” said Mrs. Merton; “for these animals have been known
sometimes to descend to the depth of two feet, and I believe they
generally go at least a foot beneath the surface, which is a greater
depth than I could possibly dig to, with the point of my parasol, and I
have no other instrument at hand.”
“But then,” cried Agnes, “how will the poor solen return itself, for I
suppose it will not always remain buried in the sand?”
“If you will look attentively,” said Mrs. Merton, “you will see that
the solen has left a little hole, by which he can return to the surface
whenever he thinks proper, which no doubt will be as soon as we have
disappeared;” and, in fact, when Agnes looked at the little narrow tube
which the solen had left in the sand, she fancied she could see some
slight appearance of its shining pinkish shell in the hole. Her mamma,
however, would not suffer her to attempt to get the shell out, lest she
should destroy the tube, and thus convert the poor solen’s retreat into
its tomb. She, therefore, stood for some time looking at the hole in
silence; and at last asked her mamma if there was not any way of
bringing the creature out without injuring it.
“It is said,” returned Mrs. Merton, “that when a fisherman wishes to
catch one of these creatures alive, he can bring it to the surface by
throwing a little salt down the tube; but, strange to say, this plan is
only successful once, and the fisherman must be on the watch to seize
the shell the moment it makes its appearance, as if the animal becomes
alarmed and descends a second time, the salt has no longer any effect
upon it, and no efforts on the part of the fisherman can induce it to
rise again.”
“How very curious!” said Agnes; “but I do hope we shall find another of
these creatures in time to seize it. Are they common on this coast,
mamma?”
“Not very, I believe,” said Mrs. Merton; “and I think the kind of which
you have the half valve is not a British shell at all, but has been
washed here from some other country.”
They now walked on, and Agnes picked up the half of another bivalve
shell, which her mother told her was called Mactra, or the Kneading
Trough, from some fancied resemblance in the shape of the shell to that
utensil. As this shell was not very beautiful, Agnes soon threw it
away, but not before her mamma had made her observe that one of the
teeth was shaped like the letter V.
“There are many shells,” continued Mrs. Merton, “which are of nearly
the same outward shape as this, and which can only be distinguished
from each other by some peculiarities in the teeth or hinge.”
Agnes now picked up another half of a bivalve shell, which she at first
thought was another mactra, as the two shells bore considerable
resemblance to each other; but when Mrs. Merton told her to look at the
hinge she found that instead of being in the shape of a V there was a
curious projection resembling a small spoon, which her mother told her
fitted into a corresponding hollow in the other valve.
“This shell,” continued Mrs. Merton, “is one of the kind called Gapers,
because the two valves, instead of closing, are always open or gaping
at one end: they are so far apart, indeed, as to admit of a large tube,
containing two smaller ones, to pass through the opening. This tube the
animal can draw into the shell at pleasure; but generally when the
creature buries itself in the sand it allows its tube just to reach the
surface in order that it may take its food by means of the small tubes
within the large one. In some cases the animal buries itself so deeply
in the sand that it is obliged to elongate its tube to an extraordinary
length, in order to make it reach the surface; but in other cases the
tube is very short. The scientific name of this shell is Mya; and the
animal belonging to it is eaten in some parts of the world as an
article of food.”
Agnes now began to gather sea-weed and pebbles, and she had soon
collected a large quantity of both to put in her basket, which she had
placed on the beach while she filled it; this she did most effectively,
for several times when it appeared full she contrived by dint of
shaking and pressing to make it hold a little more. At last, however,
she seemed satisfied that her basket was full, and she attempted to
lift it up and carry it after her mamma, who had now turned, and was
walking slowly back towards the village. Mrs. Merton was absorbed in
thought, and as her back was turned towards Agnes, she was quite
unconscious of the trouble of the little girl, who was trying in vain
with all the strength she could muster to raise the basket. But all her
efforts were in vain, the basket was far too heavy for her; and after a
powerful but useless struggle, fearing that her mamma would leave her
behind, as she had already lost sight of her behind one of the
projecting cliffs, poor Agnes uttered a cry so full of trouble and
almost despair that her mamma came running back, terrified lest some
dreadful accident had happened to her darling. When she found what was
really the matter, she could scarcely help laughing at poor Agnes’s
dilemma, and she put an end to it by emptying the contents of the
basket on the beach, and helping Agnes to refill it with only a few of
the stones and shells, and the lightest and prettiest of the sea-weed,
with which they returned to the inn.