26 LESSON V. 



Teacher. It exudes from the skin of the ani- 

 mal. With what did I tell you that the mantle is 

 covered ? 



Child. With glands. 



Teacher. In these is secreted the calcareous 

 matter. 



Child. How very wonderful that they should 

 thus be provided with materials to make their 

 abode ; but how is the shell formed from this 

 substance ? 



Teacher. The little animal you once despised 

 is its own architect, and constructs a dwelling 

 exactly suited to its wants. One of our divines, 

 who has written a volume to prove that the works 

 of creation are alone a sufficient evidence of the 

 existence of a wise and beneficent God, says, 

 speaking of a shell, " I do not know whether, 

 weight being given, art can produce so strong a 

 case as some shells."* What do you now think 

 of the workmanship of these little creatures ? 



Child. It is very wonderful, and how re- 

 markable that there should be such a variety of 

 shapes in shells ! 



Teacher. The shape of the shell is determined 

 by that of the animal itself. 



Child. But the mollusk does not always con- 

 tinue the same size. 



Teacher. Very true. It is quite minute when 

 it comes out of the egg, and the shell is then 

 proportionably small ; but as the animal increases 

 * Paley's Natural Theology. 



