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BRANCH MOLLUSCA 



Fig. 64. — The chambered nautilus. 



' Year after year beheld the silent t oil 



That spread his lustrous coil; 



Still, as the spiral grew, 

 He left the past year's dwelhng for the new, 

 Stole with soft step its shining archway through, 



Built up its idle door. 

 Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more. 



Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee. 



Child of the wandering sea, 



Cast from her lap, forlorn! 

 From thy dead lips a clearer note is born 

 Than ever Triton blew from wreathed horn! 



While on mine ear it rings, 

 Through the deep caves of thought I hear a voice that sings: 



Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, 



As the swift seasons roll! 



Leave thy low-vaulted past! 

 Let each new temple, nobler than the last, 

 Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, 



Till thou at length art free, 

 Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea." 



Oliver Wendell Holmes. 



