36 Life Beneath the Waves. 



enveloped by the numerous feelers, which 

 twined and untwined themselves round it 

 with great rapidity, the tentacles appearing 

 to act for the worm as our teeth act for us, 

 with the exception of theirs being out- 

 side instead of inside the mouth, for the 

 piece of meat was gradually softened 

 and divided into very small particles, 

 and drawn up beneath the crimson fringe. 



These Annelids lived but a week or two ; 

 they came out of their houses in the rock, 

 and lay extended amongst the pebbles 

 some hours before they died, the rest- 

 less tentacles gradually becoming quieter, 

 until at length they ceased to move at 

 all. 



Serpulae and Sabellae, and many other 

 worms which inhabit tubes, forsake their 

 shells in this way before death; their 

 brilliant hues generally become fainter 



