i6 



GLIMPSES OF NATURE. 



the Sabella, another familiar worm- architect of our 

 sandy shores. I know of nothing more beautiful 

 than the plume-like gills of the Sabella-worm. They 

 spring from its head-extremity, together with its 



feelers, in curved array, 

 and present us with truly 

 feathery sprays, wherein 

 the blood of the animal 

 courses in closely-placed 

 vital streams, to be ex- 

 posed to the air contained 

 in the native water of the 

 worm. 



Extremely sensitive are 

 these gills and tentacles, 

 as you may demonstrate 

 in the case of yet another 

 worm-architect. On this 

 stone I have picked up is 

 a hard, dense tube of car- 

 bonate of lime, or, in plain 

 language, hard chalk. 



This is the Serpulas 

 habitation. I place the 

 stone and its tube in this 

 rock pool. In a moment you see the beautiful gill- 

 plumes to be protruded from the tube, and to wave 

 backwards and forwards in the water. This is the 

 respiratory act or breathing-play of these animals, 

 and the slightest touch sends the gills into the tube. 

 Worm susceptibilities have been offended by the pry- 

 ing curiosity of humanity, and a natural plug (which 

 is merely a thickened tentacle) closes up the mouth 

 of the Serpula-tube until such time as its denizen, 



Fig. 6. Sabella and its tube, showing 

 the plume-like gills 



