IT2 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



One of these tube-worms, the Trumpet Sabella (S. tubuland], 

 is represented in our illustration on page 109. It does not 

 form its tube of foreign material, but of shelly matter secreted 

 by its own body. It does not associate with other individuals 

 of its species as does the common kind (S. alveolarid), but 

 attaching the small beginnings of its tube to a shell or stone, 

 it builds by itself and secretes a long tube that gradually rises 

 from its support and attains a more or less erect attitude. 

 From this " coign of vantage " it expands its glorious jewelled 

 coronet, and instantly vanishes far into its depths on the 

 slightest alarm, real or false. 



The tubes of another family, the Serpuladae, resemble those 

 of the Trumpet Sabella in their material, but instead of the 

 semi-erect, free tube of that species, most of the Serpulae are 

 cemented to shells and stones for the greater part of their 

 length, and are irregularly twisted. There is an important 

 feature, however, which will enable us to distinguish between 

 Serpula and Sabella at a glance. Serpula is furnished with a 

 peculiar organ in shape like a long inverted cone, so placed 

 that it is the last part of the animal to be withdrawn into the 

 tube, which it accurately fits and effectually closes like a 

 stopper. This organ is really one of the tentacles specially 

 developed to serve the purpose of a house-door. 



The species represented in the accompanying figure is a 

 very beautiful one, the Scarlet Serpula (Serpula contortupli- 

 catd). Its scarlet stopper and fine fanlike branchiae present 

 a splendid contrast with the smooth white, china-like tubes. 



Along the sides of these creatures are peculiarly shaped and 

 toothed hooks, and bunches of bristles which serve in lieu of 

 limbs to enable the worm to push out its breathing apparatus 

 and to rapidly withdraw it. 



We must look for the Scarlet Serpula on shells and stones 

 that have been washed in from deeper water ; but there is a 

 more plentiful species to be found in abundance between tide- 

 marks, sometimes almost completely covering loose flat stones 



