LIMA. 263 



them, expels the water which they contain, and is impelled 

 either onward or upward, according to his necessities or in- 

 clination, by a succession of jerks or jumps. While thus 

 progressing through the water the brilliant orange fringe- 

 work, which is altogether outside of his elegantly-constructed 

 fragile shell, resembles the tail of a comet; and perhaps, 

 among molluscous animals, whether as regards the shell 

 or its inhabitant, none are more pleasing to the eye than this 

 admirable little creature. Kings and great men, in ancient 

 times, caused their state-rooms to be covered with superb 

 and pictured hangings from the looms of Gobelin and of 

 Arras ; and further back, in looking through the vista of 

 past ages, courtly dames are seen employed on the most 

 elaborate productions of the needle. 



" Then queens their hours bestowed 

 In cui'ious works. The whirling spindle glow'd 

 With crimson threads, while busy damsels cull 

 The snowy fleece, or twist the purpled wool." — Homer. 



But the Lima wrought in the earliest ages of the world ; 

 and thus elegantly has a modern writer spoken of the Kttle 

 craftsman : — " I doubt not that, from the timxC when Noah's 

 ark rested on the mountain of Ararat, the forefathers of the 



