TEMPLE OF SERAPIS. 283 



ESTHER. 



True. I only received it the other day, and have not put it 

 in its place. It is the species of mussel (Mytilus lithdphagus) 

 which is found at Pozzuoli, near Naples, in the temple of 

 Serapis. The marble columns, at the height of twelve feet, 

 are pierced by this perforating bivalve. The holes of these 

 animals are pear-shaped, the external opening being minute, 

 and gradually increasing downwards. These perforations 

 are so considerable in depth and size that they manifest a long 

 continued abode of these animals in the columns, for as they 

 grow older and increase in size, they bore a larger cavity, to 

 correspond with the increasing magnitude of their shell. 

 The granite columns of the same temple remain untouched. 



HENRIETTA. 



How is this accounted for 1 ? 



ESTHER. 



We cannot but infer that these columns must have been, 

 for a long period, immersed in saltwater, in an erect position, 

 and, after remaining for so many years submerged, must have 

 been upraised to the height of about twenty-three feet above 

 the level of the sea; but by what internal convulsions these 

 two changes must have been affected, is unknown. These 

 effects occur in other instances in the Bay of Naples, and the 

 whole country about, which is volcanic; and not far from 

 Pozzuoli, is the Monte Nuovo, which was raised in 1538 by 

 one of those internal convulsions; but you will find full 

 accounts of the volcanic eruptions in the district about Naples 

 in Mr. LyelPs interesting work on geology. The mention of 

 these stone-boring mussels bring us to the last drawer of the 

 cabinet, which contains the Tubicolas, among which the ship- 

 borer (Teredo navalis} stands pre-eminent. 



HENRIETTA. 



Are not these the animals which do so much mischief to 

 ships'? 



