332 TOILERS IN THE SEA. 



position the material is raised by the tongue and 

 trowels, aided by a general elevation of the head ; 

 and it is fashioned into shape by the same tongue 

 and trowels, curved over the exterior circumference, 

 as far as they can be stretched, and smoothed and 

 polished by their motions, while clasping it with their 

 pressure." 



" And thus the tube is built up. The lower 

 portion has been left unoccupied, for it has become 

 too straight for the tail, which has grown with the 

 worm's growth ; and the upper portion extends far 

 beyond what may at first seem necessary, but its 

 Creator foresaw that it was needful this lower work 

 of His should be able at pleasure to hide the glories 

 with which He has adorned it, otherwise too seduc- 

 tive to the enemies that were enticed by the richness 

 of the display. For its tube the worm seldom uses 

 other material- than soft mud, but in urgent need 

 fine sand may be partially resorted to. The gummy 

 fluid, with which it is cemented, is, in the first 

 instance, undoubtedly supplied by organs connected 

 with the head ; but much is afterwards furnished 

 by the skin of the body, to make the interior more 

 consistent and lubricous. Indeed, that the tube 

 may be kept circular throughout, the worm is, while 

 working, in a state of continual rotation." l 



1 "Johnston's " Catalogue of British Worms," p. 257. 



