VSE OF THE ANTENNA. 131 



the antenna, a semicircle. Of course, those of the 

 opposite antenna make another semicircle, and, when 

 placed face to face, the points of the bristles just cross 

 each other, and a circle is enclosed. Now, the whole 

 length of the antennae (about an inch and a half) is 

 closely beset with these bristles, and thus a long row of 

 rings is formed with very narrow interspaces between 

 them; and these rings do in effect constitute a tube 

 quite sufficient to retain the stream of water that is 

 poured through it. 



I think then that we may, with an approach to cer- 

 tainty, conclude that the long antennae are intended to 

 keep a passage open through the sand, from the bottom 

 of the burrow to the superincumbent water, for the 

 purpose of pouring off the waste water, rendered effete 

 by having bathed the gills : and it is one of those ex- 

 quisite contrivances and appropriations of structure to 

 habit which are so constantly exciting our admiration 

 in the handiwork of the ever blessed God, which cannot 

 be predicated by the a priori reasoner, however astute, 

 but are ever rewarding the research of the patient 

 observer. 



Our walk along the sands with steady downcast por- 

 ing gaze suddenly ends, and we find ourselves among 

 low ledges of black rock (ruddy, however, in its recent 

 fractures, for *it is the old red sandstone), clad with 



