141 

 CHAPTER XXXVII. 



OF THE SERPULA. GENUS XXXIV. 



SERPULA. 



''Animal a Terebella. Shell univalve, tubular, adhering, often separated 

 internally by divisions at uncertain distances." — Linn. 



These shells are not much known ; there appears to be con- 

 siderable variety both in the shells and also in the animals in- 

 habiting them. 



The essential character seems to be a cylindrical or rather 

 vermiform tubular shell, often much twisted and in consider- 

 able masses, generally adhering to some other substance. 



There appears to be considerable impropriety in classing 

 such different animals together in one genus as are found in 

 this. Some separation here seems desirable ; but whether it is 

 necessary to divide it so much as Lamarck has done, will ad- 

 mit of some doubt. 



Linnaeus has described 16 species, Gmelin has added 22, 

 and Dr. Turton 10. Total, 48. 



Lamarck has divided this genus into five, as follows : 

 Penicillus. Shell tubular, adhering, narrow, and rather 

 spiral at its origin, dilating into a club form at the other 

 end, which terminates in a convex disk beset with small 

 tubular perforations (see S. Penis, pi. 9. /. 130). 



