336 TOILERS IN THE SEA. 



hurriedly retreat within the shelter of its tube. It 

 was never off its guard, and would often, when 

 lying apparently in calm indulgence, suddenly with- 

 draw, in evident alarm, without a cause, but what 

 was gendered by its own natural timidity ; for the 

 phantoms of dreams are not, it may be, the visitants 

 only of higher intelligences, but come as they like, 

 in a fearful or cheerful mood, even to these lower 

 things. It never protruded itself far from its tube, 

 and after becoming weak and sickly, it first threw 

 off one half of its pride, a branchial tuft ; and after 

 several hours the other was likewise cast away, when 

 the poor mutilated creature buried itself, still living, 

 and to live for a day or so longer, in its own house 

 and cemetery." l 



Examples might be multiplied of these tube- 

 forming annelids, but, with the .exception of two 

 well-known species, enough will have been written 

 to demonstrate that they have a considerable interest 

 of their own, apart from their constructive capacity, 

 although they do not appear to have been made 

 the subject of investigation by many of our own 

 naturalists, which doubtless they would amply 

 repay. 



The Serpula, which is best known on our coasts 

 (Serpula vermicular is], constructs a pinkish tube of 



1 Johnston's " Catalogue of Worms," p. 266. 



