26 LESSON V. 



of which shells are composed obtained ? Is it 

 found in the sea ? 



Teacher. It exudes from the skin of the 

 animal, which as I told you, is furnished with 

 numerous glands. In these is secreted the cal- 

 careous 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 formerly 

 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 evi- 

 dence of the existence of a wise and beneficent 

 God, says, speaking of a shell, " I do not 

 know whether weight being given, art can pro- 

 duce 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 deter- 

 mined by that of the animal itself. 



Child. But the mollusk does not always 

 continue the same size. 



Teacher. Very true. It is quite minute 

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



* Paley's Natural Theology. 



