Sammy learned that the affectionate embrace of the many-armed Octopus
was not to be desired; and that a thicket of seaweed is a good
hiding-place from a chance enemy, and is apt to contain many delicious
tidbits in the way of fish food. He knew the manners and habits of the
many brilliant-hued fish who live in Coral-Land; and he knew that the
floor of the Lagoon had as many curious and beautiful inhabitants as
its waters. There the Star-Fish sprawled on the sand, the Sea-Cucumber
crawled along, expanding and contracting its worm-like body; there the
Sea-Urchin hid himself in the rock, and shells large and small, pink,
blue, red and all the colors of the rainbow lay scattered about on the
sand and rocks.

All these shells had, of course, their living inhabitants, for a shell
is always the home of some water animal, and when the owner dies the
shell is left as a monument, and very beautiful monuments most of them
are.

The Sea-Snail, the Cockle, the Razor-shell and many others have each a
good-sized foot which helps them in crawling along, or in boring holes
for themselves in the rocks.

[Illustration: a. SEA SNAIL b. NAUTILUS c. COCKLE, SHOWING FOOT
d. RAZOR SHELL]

Sammy had taken some pains to become acquainted with the Nautilus and
his family, whose beautiful little boats he had often seen sailing
gaily along on the surface of the Lagoon, especially after a storm
when the water was calm.