Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/153

Rh highly probable that they are the jesters of her court.

So many strange forms meet our vision in these submarine realms, that we are puzzled as to which we ought to select for examination. Look at all these richly-coloured and gracefully-formed shells; each has its peculiar tenant, about which many wonderful things might be related. The shells, though beautiful themselves, are not to be compared with some of their inhabitants. Look at that periwinkle, for instance, who is now devouring the tender shoots of that plant, you must own that his zebra stripes and netted markings are exceedingly ornamental. But the periwinkle is not nearly so attractive as some of the fleshy creatures that may be seen protruding from their shells, and which have the richest hues imaginable.

Again, just glance at those sea-slugs. How can we describe their various forms and colours? Here is one of a bright lemon colour, with a beautiful plume of feathers springing from his back; here another of a pearly white, wearing numerous club-like ornaments; and here a third, of a dingy grey, but furnished with a pretty little bouquet of flowers. The reader will perhaps be surprised when we tell him that these plumes, and clubs, and flowers enable the sea-slugs to breathe; yet such is the fact, for all these ornamental appendages perform the same functions as our lungs.