THE BRICK-MAKER. 23 



pellet by pellet and ring on ring is added, and 

 gently and gradually pushed down until the base- 

 ment is reached to which the architect is fixed. 

 To this basement the building is firmly cemented ; 

 and the house may now be said to be constructed, 

 and only requires additional rings of bricks in pro- 

 portion as its occupant grows and requires more 

 room for shelter and repose. 



Pondering over the selective character of the 

 " sorting " operation above referred to, one feels that 

 it can be due only to intelligent perception of the 

 difference between one kind of matter and another ; 

 and this conviction is confirmed by the following 

 observation. A loose mass of effete matter is 

 thrown forth with more than ordinary force, and in 

 the usual habitat of the creature in a pond 

 would speedily be carried away. But here, in the 

 contracted space of a small glass trough, it is 

 repeatedly brought back within the little whirlpool 

 created by the ciliary action of the trochal disc, 

 and we expect every moment to see it carried down 

 the vortex to the stomach along with its food. 

 But not so, it is not even admitted to the sorting 

 apparatus before described, but is at once and 



