THE MERMAID’S TEA SERVICE. 17 
sustained by the plucky little animal for some 
seconds. Whatever theory may be correct in 
accounting for the strength with which these 
little creatures cling to their rocky home, 
we can wholly agree with Wordsworth who 
wrote: — | 
‘“ Should the strongest arm endeavor 
The limpet from its rock to sever, 
Tis seen its loved support to clasp 
With such tenacity of grasp, 
We wonder that such strength should dwell 
In such a small and simple shell! 
“When the water covers his weather-worn 
dome, the limpet does a-walking go; but always 
returns to the same spot upon the rock and re- 
mains fixed while the tides are out, as its gills 
were never made for breathing air. When the 
rocks are soft, the little limpet wears away 
not only his ‘door stone,’ but its circular little 
dome reposes in a cavity which its muscular 
foot scoops out, and which the shell exactly fits. 
“Who would guess this silent little creature 
possessor of a tongue twice as long as its shell ? 
Stranger still, this ribbonlike tongue is fur- 
nished with rows of teeth. The Patella vulgaris 
of the British Isles has one hundred and sixty 
rows of teeth upon its tongue, and twelve teeth 
in a row, making its entire ‘set’ to consist of 
