第 18 节
作者:
精灵王 更新:2021-04-30 17:23 字数:9322
pairs; but how it obtains its food by them is yet a mystery; for its
intestines are filled; like an earth…worm's; with the mud in which it lives;
and from which it probably extracts (as does the earth…worm) all organic
matters。
You will find it stick to your fingers by the whole skin; causing; if
your hand be delicate; a tingling sensation; and if you examine the skin
under the microscope; you will find the cause。 The whole skin is
studded with minute glass anchors; some hanging freely from the surface;
but most imbedded in the skin。 Each of these anchors is jointed at its
root into one end of a curious cribriform plate; … in plain English; one
pierced like a sieve; which lies under the skin; and reminds one of the
similar plates in the skin of the White Cucumaria; which I will show you
presently; and both of these we must regard as the first rudiments of an
Echinoderm's outside skeleton; such as in the Sea…urchins covers the
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whole body of the animal。 (See on Echinus Millaris; p。 89。) (7)
Somewhat similar anchor…plates; from a Red Sea species; Synapta
Vittata; may be seen in any collection of microscopic objects。
The animal; when caught; has a strange habit of self…destruction;
contracting its skin at two or three different points; and writhing till it
snaps itself into 〃junks;〃 as the sailors would say; and then dies。 My
specimens; on breaking up; threw out from the wounded part long
〃ovarian filaments〃 (whatsoever those may be); similar to those thrown
out by many of the Sagartian anemones; especially S。 parasitica。
Beyond this; I can tell you nothing about Synapta; and only ask you to
consider its hands; as an instance of that fantastic play of Nature which
repeats; in families widely different; organs of similar form; though
perhaps of by no means similar use; nay; sometimes (as in those
beautiful clear…wing hawk…moths which you; as they hover round the
rhododendrons; mistake for bumble…bees) repeats the outward form of a
whole animal; for no conceivable reason save her … shall we not say
honestly His? … own good pleasure。
But here we are at the old bank of boulders; the ruins of an antique
pier which the monks of Tor Abbey built for their convenience; while
Torquay was but a knot of fishing huts within a lonely limestone cove。
To get to it; though; we have passed many a hidden treasure; for every
ledge of these flat New…red…sandstone rocks; if torn up with the crowbar;
discloses in its cracks and crannies nests of strange forms which shun
the light of day; beautiful Actiniae fill the tiny caverns with living
flowers; great Pholades (Plate X。 figs。 3; 4) bore by hundreds in the
softer strata; and wherever a thin layer of muddy sand intervenes
between two slabs; long Annelid worms of quaintest forms and colours
have their horizontal burrows; among those of that curious and rare
radiate animal; the Spoonworm; (8) an eyeless bag about an inch long;
half bluish grey; half pink; with a strange scalloped and wrinkled
proboscis of saffron colour; which serves; in some mysterious way; soft
as it is; to collect food; and clear its dark passage through the rock。
See; at the extreme low…water mark; where the broad olive fronds of
the Laminariae; like fan…palms; droop and wave gracefully in the retiring
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ripples; a great boulder which will serve our purpose。 Its upper side is a
whole forest of sea…weeds; large and small; and that forest; if you
examined it closely; as full of inhabitants as those of the Amazon or the
Gambia。 To 〃beat〃 that dense cover would be an endless task: but on
the under side; where no sea… weeds grow; we shall find full in view
enough to occupy us till the tide returns。 For the slab; see; is such a one
as sea…beasts love to haunt。 Its weed…covered surface shows that the
surge has not shifted it for years past。 It lies on other boulders clear of
sand and mud; so that there is no fear of dead sea…weed having lodged
and decayed under it; destructive to animal life。 We can see dark
crannies and caves beneath; yet too narrow to allow the surge to wash in;
and keep the surface clean。 It will be a fine menagerie of Nereus; if we
can but turn it。
Now the crowbar is well under it; heave; and with a will; and so;
after five minutes' tugging; propping; slipping; and splashing; the
boulder gradually tips over; and we rush greedily upon the spoil。
A muddy dripping surface it is; truly; full of cracks and hollows;
uninviting enough at first sight: let us look it round leisurely; to see if
there are not materials enough there for an hour's lecture。
The first object which strikes the eye is probably a group of milk…
white slugs; from two to six inches long; cuddling snugly together (Plate
IX。 fig。 1)。 You try to pull them off; and find that they give you some
trouble; such a firm hold have the delicate white sucking arms; which
fringe each of their five edges。 You see at the head nothing but a
yellow dimple; for eating and breathing are suspended till the return of
tide; but once settled in a jar of salt…water; each will protrude a large
chocolate…coloured head; tipped with a ring of ten feathery gills; looking
very much like a head of 〃curled kale;〃 but of the loveliest white and
primrose; in the centre whereof lies perdu a mouth with sturdy teeth … if
indeed they; as well as the whole inside of the beast; have not been
lately got rid of; and what you see be not a mere bag; without intestine or
other organ: but only for the time being。 For hear it; worn…out
epicures; and old Indians who bemoan your livers; this little Holothuria
knows a secret which; if he could tell it; you would be glad to buy of
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him for thousands sterling。 To him blue pill and muriatic acid are
superfluous; and travels to German Brunnen a waste of time。 Happy
Holothuria! who possesses really the secret of everlasting youth; which
ancient fable bestowed on the serpent and the eagle。 For when his teeth
ache; or his digestive organs trouble him; all he has to do is just to cast
up forthwith his entire inside; and; faisant maigre for a month or so;
grow a fresh set; and then eat away as merrily as ever。 His name; if you
wish to consult so triumphant a hygeist; is Cucumaria Pentactes: but he
has many a stout cousin round the Scotch coast; who knows the
antibilious panacea as well as he; and submits; among the northern
fishermen; to the rather rude and undeserved name of sea…puddings; one
of which grows in Shetland to the enormous length of three feet;
rivalling there his huge congeners; who display their exquisite plumes on
every tropic coral reef。 (9)
Next; what are those bright litt