DOLABELLA. 203 



until the nature and position of the breathing organs be- 

 came known. The respiration of each requires a continual 

 current of water ; and not only is the mantle slit or perfo- 

 rated in that part which covers the cervical cavity^ but the 

 shell alsOj and thus the peculiar formation of the branchise 

 has led to the detection of an affinity between two mollusks 

 which had previously been assigned to different parts of the 

 system. 



The brief description that pertains to every order seems 

 to us like a door-way opening into a well-ordered museum ; 

 and, as the ancients caused appropriate inscriptions to be 

 carved on the doors of public buildings, we desire to pre- 

 sent our youthful readers with the following elegant and 

 appropriate lines : — 



" Nature never did betray 

 The heart that loved her ; 'tis her privilege. 

 Through all the years of this our life, to lead 

 From joy to joy ; for she can so inform 

 The mind that is within us, so impress 

 With quietness and beauty, and so feed 

 With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues. 

 Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all 

 The busy feverish cares of daily life. 

 Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb 

 Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold 

 Is full of blessings." — Hurdis. 



