NUCULA. 327 



may assume^ that each mollusk has his own favourite sea- 

 weed, to whicli the creature resorts, either as to a home, a 

 citadel, or a storehouse. This is the case on Land, and why 

 not within the deep ? Every insect is given to some plant, 

 the moment it emerges to life : a leaf or flower has opened 

 or unfolded for its reception, a blade of grass has sprung 

 up, or some humble wayside weed holds up its tiny cups 

 filled with nectar. 



The tide continually presents to us many a curious sea- 

 weed, freighted with small shells and their inhabitants. 

 Those, too, who are out at sea, often derive no small plea- 

 sure and amusement from examining branches of Sargas- 

 siim, or masses of algse, which may be compared to minute 

 zoological gardens, with their dissimilar occupants. Pro- 

 fessor Scouler mentions one such, as having afforded him 

 a pleasant occupation for some days. He noticed two or 

 three SerpulcB wandering among the branches of their float- 

 ing island, and that interesting mollusk, the Ili/alcea, who 

 employed himself in climbing the branches by means of 

 his beautifully-grooved foot, and grazing upon the fronds ; 

 sponges of small size and curious forms attached them- 

 selves to the roots; and naturalists who have examined 

 such floating meadows^ report that sea-stars and sea- 



