Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-23
Shell Fish.

Children, don't you wish somebody
would invent an under-the-Water, tranSaJ-
lanUc steam or electric car. supplied with
air, as diving bells are. and passing along
the bed of the ocean? What strange things
We would see through the plate-glaSS win
dowS Tie sights from the New York
Elevated Railroad wouldn't be circum-
stance TO those which we would have of the
natives of the sea at home and in the bosom
OF their families. There hangs Il long tuft
Of sea grass. Some of the narrow leaves
turn and writhe with very life-like mo-
ton. No wonder, for they are all alive;
they are grass fish, and the cunning crea-
lures have hidden themselves in order to
deceive and catch their prey. We would
pass through gardens ofliving flowers COM
posed of animals instead of plants. They
are vivid green, brown and yellow, rich
purple, pale red and deep blue But if YOU
should reach ont your hand. at any coral
island station, to pluck one of these gor-
geous cactus-likc blossoms, YOU would find
them armed with necdle-lile feelers that
prick quite disagrceahiy. These are star
fish and jelly-fiSh. They are very queer
creatures.
They have eyes in the tip Of each arm or
ray, and heart near the opening on the
back, Il breathing apparatus and a nervous
eggs far from abandoning them as many
other fishes do, they bend down their five
arms and actually brood them. chicken
fashion. Whenever one OF these arms is
detached il becomes il time i perfect star
fish. The fish goes about as happy as
though 1t had not lost part Of itself
They are the enemies OF all lovers Of 0ys-
tiers. | was reading an article in an old
number Of -4ppictoH'S MdqGziHe few DAYS
ago, which told of the destruction they
work among the oyster beds They creep
into large oysters and suck them up though
how they make a place to get in is Il mvs-
terry. We might see angel-iish. with great
round heads and wide fins, bearing a hid
eOus resemblance To a winged human
being, and which perhaps gave rise to the
behet III mernaids. FLYING fish, gigantic
octopuscs or deyil-fsh, immense oysters
or CLAIMS, whose shells | have seen three
feet and two feet wide
Travellers in the islands of the South Pa
ciiic tell Us that in some places these great
sheA-fiSh lie open upon the beach at low
water, and when disturbed they shut up
suddenly with Il loud bang like the report
of a gun; and il a man wandering on the
beach at dusk happened to put his foot in
one he would probably be manned for life
that would be literally putting his foot
in it -; but there is not much danger of
that, as they generally shut up at the sound
of approaching footsteps They are said
to be good 10 eat. and one of the larger ones
would make a dinner for a large family.
Wemight pass ieliy-iilic groves ofsp0ugc,
in which great turtles bask and rest. while
schools Of whales and their foes. the sword
fish, would start|e and iriShten us as herds
of buffalo do the passengers on the Union
q IF
their terrific battles. and literally sail
through " seas OF blood in consequence
Then think of the beautiful shells we
| should see, of which there are, / believe
about 2n,0J0 varieties known to cOncholo-
gistS. You see the study of shells is sci
encc, with long, hard name Some of
these shells are rs much as three feet long
| they are the big oyster shells ! told YOU
of; others can be used for trumpets. and
their sound heard for mile or more; 9th
ers are 50 small and delicate that they can
scarcely be seen without the aid of a mag
nifying glass. ! heard 4 funny fish story
| the other day. \ scientific gentleman pass
| ing through the market saw some cells of a
| rare kind and bought them, and not wish
| ing to be incumbcred with a basket. soon
| had them slowed away i'll his umbrella.
| and, as he supposed, safely tied in. Step
! ping into Il street car, theway seemed made
50 smooth for the securing of his treasure
that the professor sank INFO a revcric.
Coming back at last to things OF the pres
| ent. he found 10 his dismay that the string
had looscned and the GELS disappeared.
Knowing SO we'll the restless nature Of the
animals, the professor stopped at the first
crossing and retreajed to the sidewalk. but
kept that car in view and watched for the
denouemcnt. he had not lon,. to wait be-
| fore the car stopped, andsamid shricks and
cries Of Snakes snakes The occupants
of the vehicle, iostling each other in mad
confusion rushed into the street, while the
disappointed professor laughs his Jolly
| laugh and /, comtorted for the loss Of his
GELS