THE HEARIXG OF MOLLUSCS. 373 



neither nerve nor ganglionic attachment. The mention 

 of embryological indications reminds me that Von 

 Siebold has sho^yn the close analogy which exists 

 between the permanent organ of hearing in the gas- 

 teropod Molluscs, and the transitory form of that organ 

 in the embryo of the fish. 



"With such an organ, a mere bag of pebbles in liquid, 

 only a slight degree of that exquisite sense, known by 

 us as Hearing, can be claimed by the interesting 

 animal which naturalists are fond of styling " the 

 humble Mollusc/' / never detected any humility in 

 Molluscs ; and if they seem humble in the eyes of 

 haughty ignorance, a little knowledge of their structure 

 will soon remove that misconception. It is true, they 

 give no dinners, and are perfectly regardless of the 

 higher circles ; they trouble themselves very little 

 about any of the " great movements \' they do nothing 

 for the " Progress of the Species ; '' leave the Jews un- 

 converted ; have no views on the " Ballot ;" and are 

 utterly insensible to the advantages of '' Marriage with 

 a Deceased Wife's Sister." But they have their little 

 world, and are as perfectly constructed for it as we are, 

 who condescend to notice and patronisingly admire 

 them.* In that world they do not need what we need. 

 They hear nothing of the marvellous inflections of 

 speech, the tremulous tenderness of affection, the harsh 



* " Les mollusques sont les pauvres et les aflBiges parmi les §tres de 

 la creation," says Virey, who originated the principle of Cuvier's clas- 

 sification, but who was talking at random when he thus spoke. In 

 creation there is neither high nor low ; there are only complex and 

 simple organisations, one as perfect as the other. 



