Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/146

Rh some of the plants are cut into fringes, some are spread out like fans; and others are divided into as many segments as are the graceful ferns of our woods. None of the marine plants in this group bear flowers, but nature has given them such brilliant hues that this fact might easily have escaped our notice.

Let us now glance at some of the mermaid's subjects, assuming the invisible lady to be the queen of these submarine realms.

Among the "happy living things" of the sea, the fishes occupy the foremost rank, but we cannot bestow much time upon them, as we have to examine many less familiar creatures. But here comes one little fish whose strongly marked peculiarities at once attract our attention. His body is of a pale brown colour, with drab clouds, and patches of white specks. He looks a terrible fellow, in spite of his mild eyes, which are light blue, and closely resemble turquoises. Now he hides beneath a broad frond of sea-weed, but we can see his wicked face projecting from the covert. We will watch this gentleman closely, as we half suspect that there is some mischief brewing. Another fish now appears upon the scene, a gentle and an unsuspicious fish to judge from his expression, a fish who would not hurt a fly—unless he happened to be hungry. Now this simple-minded creature approaches the place where he with the turquoise eyes waits in ambush. Assassin-like,