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Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
nevertheless； owing to certain anatomical peculiarities； he needed one
aperture more than a limpet； so one； if you will examine； has been given
him at the top of his shell。 （15） This is one instance among a thousand
of the way in which a scientific knowledge of objects must not obey； but
run counter to； the impressions of sense； and of a custom in nature which
makes this caution so necessary； namely； the repetition of the same form；
slightly modified； in totally different animals； sometimes as if to avoid
waste； （for why should not the same conception be used in two different
cases； if it will suit in both？） and sometimes （more marvellous by far）
when an organ； fully developed and useful in one species； appears in a
cognate species but feeble； useless； and； as it were； abortive； and
gradually； in species still farther removed； dies out altogether； placed
there； it would seem； at first sight； merely to keep up the family likeness。
I am half jesting； that cannot be the only reason； perhaps not the reason
at all； but the fact is one of the most curious； and notorious also； in
comparative anatomy。
Look； again； at those sea…slugs。 One； some three inches long； of a
bright lemon…yellow； clouded with purple； another of a dingy grey； （16）
another exquisite little creature of a pearly French White； （17） furred all
over the back with what seem arms； but are really gills； of ringed white
and grey and black。 Put that yellow one into water； and from his head；
above the eyes； arise two serrated 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
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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
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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