Where are the other living animals which we came to find? You will not
see them unless you hunt for them in the right way. It is a game of
"hide-and-seek." They are the "hiders"; and, as their lives often depend
on their skill in hiding, you cannot wonder that they know every trick
in the game.
There may be crabs, fish, shrimps, and others in the pool. If you look
for a moment, and then walk to the next pool, your hunting will not have
much result. It is best to lie down and wait patiently, gazing into the
clear water of the pool. The little inhabitants are hidden in the dark
corners under the rock ledges, or buried under stones and sand; or they
may be hiding in those thick clumps of mussels--a favourite
lurking-place; or else tucked away in the friendly shelter of the
seaweed.
Knowing their dodges, you will soon become clever at finding them. Some
seaside dwellers, such as prawns, are almost transparent in the water.
Others, like baby crabs, are green or brown like the weed in which they
hide. Even the sharp eyes of the seagulls must be deceived by this
trick.
What a strange life they lead, these creatures of the shore! At times
they are deep under water, and they form part of the teeming life of the
ocean floor.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27