284 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



being said to attain the weight of about a quarter 

 of a ton. 



Every part of the ocean, both in the tropics, 

 and in the arctic regions, is inhabited by mem- 

 bers of the mollusc family ; they abound likewise 

 in fresh-water lakes and rivers, both having their 

 own species. Some burrow in the sand and mud 

 of our sea-shores, others crawl among the rocks 

 and sea-weed, and several species are entirely 

 terrestrial, like the garden-snail. The form and 

 colours of many of the molluscs are so remarkable 

 and beautiful, as to defy all attempts to describe 

 them. But, without making the vain effort, we 

 shall suppose our reader to examine for himself 

 such specimens as he discovers during his visits to 

 our sea-shores. 



The mollusca have been divided into two dis- 

 tinct groups, to which naturalists have given 

 appropriate names. The one group comprehends 

 all molluscs destitute of heads, of which the oyster 

 is a familiar example, and this group is therefore 

 called the Acephala ; the second group is deno- 

 minated Encephala, because, comprehending ani- 

 mals furnished with heads, and of which the 

 garden-snail affords a well-known type. Each of 

 these two groups has been again subdivided into 

 three classes ; the first three belonging to the 

 Acephala, being classified according to certain 

 peculiarities in their gills, or in their integuments ; 

 the three last, pertaining to the Encephala, being 

 classified according to certain modifications of 

 their organs of motion. This brief statement 



