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horns； while from the after…part of his back springs a circular
Prince…of…Wales's…feather of gills； … they are almost exactly like
those which we saw just now in the white Cucumaria。 Yes； here is
another instance of the same custom of repetition。 The Cucumaria
is a low radiate animal … the sea…slug a far higher mollusc； and
every organ within him is formed on a different type； as indeed are
those seemingly identical gills； if you come to examine them under
the microscope； having to oxygenate fluids of a very different and
more complicated kind； and； moreover； the Cucumaria's gills were
put round his mouth； the Doris's feathers round the other
extremity； that grey Eolis's； again； are simple clubs； scattered
over his whole back； and in each of his nudibranch congeners these
same gills take some new and fantastic form； in Melibaea those
clubs are covered with warts； in Scyllaea； with tufted bouquets； in
the beautiful Antiopa they are transparent bags； and in many other
English species they take every conceivable form of leaf； tree；
flower； and branch； bedecked with every colour of the rainbow； as
you may see them depicted in Messrs。 Alder and Hancock's unrivalled
Monograph on the Nudibranch Mollusca。
And now； worshipper of final causes and the mere useful in nature；
answer but one question； … Why this prodigal variety？ All these
Nudibranchs live in much the same way： why would not the same
mould have done for them all？ And why； again； （for we must push
the argument a little further；） why have not all the butterflies；
at least all who feed on the same plant； the same markings？ Of all
unfathomable triumphs of design； （we can only express ourselves
thus； for honest induction； as Paley so well teaches； allows us to
ascribe such results only to the design of some personal will and
mind；） what surpasses that by which the scales on a butterfly's
wing are arranged to produce a certain pattern of artistic beauty
beyond all painter's skill？ What a waste of power； on any
utilitarian theory of nature！ And once more； why are those strange
microscopic atomies； the Diatomaceae and Infusoria； which fill
every stagnant pool； which fringe every branch of sea…weed； which
form banks hundreds of miles long on the Arctic sea…floor； and the
strata of whole moorlands； which pervade in millions the mass of
every iceberg； and float aloft in countless swarms amid the clouds
of the volcanic dust； … why are their tiny shells of flint as
fantastically various in their quaint mathematical symmetry； as
they are countless beyond the wildest dreams of the Poet？ Mystery
inexplicable on the conceited notion which； making man forsooth the
centre of the universe； dares to believe that this variety of forms
has existed for countless ages in abysmal sea…depths and untrodden
forests； only that some few individuals of the Western races might；
in these latter days； at last discover and admire a corner here and
there of the boundless realms of beauty。 Inexplicable； truly； if
man be the centre and the object of their existence； explicable
enough to him who believes that God has created all things for
Himself； and rejoices in His own handiwork； and that the material
universe is； as the wise man says； 〃A platform whereon His Eternal
Spirit sports and makes melody。〃 Of all the blessings which the
study of nature brings to the patient observer； let none； perhaps；
be classed higher than this： that the further he enters into those
fairy gardens of life and birth； which Spenser saw and described in
his great poem； the more he learns the awful and yet most
comfortable truth； that they do not belong to him； but to One
greater； wiser； lovelier than he； and as he stands； silent with
awe； amid the pomp of Nature's ever…busy rest； hears； as of old；
〃The Word of the Lord God walking among the trees of the garden in
the cool of the day。〃
One sight more； and we have done。 I had something to say； had time
permitted； on the ludicrous element which appears here and there in
nature。 There are animals； like monkeys and crabs； which seem made
to be laughed at； by those at least who possess that most
indefinable of faculties； the sense of the ridiculous。 As long as
man possesses muscles especially formed to enable him to laugh； we
have no right to suppose （with some） that laughter is an accident
of our fallen nature； or to find （with others） the primary cause of
the ridiculous in the perception of unfitness or disharmony。 And
yet we shrink （whether rightly or wrongly； we can hardly tell） from
attributing a sense of the ludicrous to the Creator of these forms。
It may be a weakness on my part； at least I will hope it is a
reverent one： but till we can find something corresponding to what
we conceive of the Divine Mind in any class of phenomena； it is
perhaps better not to talk about them at all； but observe a stoic
〃epoche；〃 waiting for more light； and yet confessing that our own
laughter is uncontrollable； and therefore we hope not unworthy of
us； at many a strange creature and strange doing which we meet；
from the highest ape to the lowest polype。
But； in the meanwhile； there are animals in which results so
strange； fantastic； even seemingly horrible； are produced； that
fallen man may be pardoned； if he shrinks from them in disgust。
That； at least； must be a consequence of our own wrong state； for
everything is beautiful and perfect in its place。 It may be
answered； 〃Yes； in its place； but its place is not yours。 You had
no business to look at it； and must pay the penalty for
intermeddling。〃 I doubt that answer； for surely； if man have
liberty to do anything； he has liberty to search out freely his
heavenly Father's works； and yet every one seems to have his
antipathic animal； and I know one bred from his childhood to
zoology by land and sea； and bold in asserting； and honest in
feeling； that all without exception is beautiful； who yet cannot；
after handling and petting and admiring all day long every uncouth
and venomous beast； avoid a paroxysm of horror at the sight of the
common house…spider。 At all events； whether we were intruding or
not； in turning this stone； we must pay a fine for having done so；
for there lies an animal as foul and monstrous to the eye as
〃hydra； gorgon； or chimaera dire；〃 and yet so wondrously fitted to
its work； that we must needs endure for our own instruction to
handle and to look at it。 Its name； if you wish for it； is
Nemertes； probably N。 Borlasii； （18） a worm of very 〃low〃
organization； though well fitted enough for its own work。 You see
it？ That black； shiny； knotted lump among the gravel； small enough
to be taken up in a dessert spoon。 Look now； as it is raised and
its coils drawn out。 Three feet … six … nine； at least： with a
capability of seemingly endless expansion； a slimy tape of living
caoutchouc； some e