THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 77 



which the water has softened. In fact, the rock, which is 

 so hard in its dry state, is, on the contrary, very soft when 

 the sea- water has saturated it, and rubbing it with the fin- 

 ger for a few minutes is enough to indent it deeply. 



But though the problem may be considered solved so far 

 as regards the Lithophagi, that is to say, the eaters of stone 

 which live in the soft limestone, there seem to be some 

 doubts as to those found in our most compact marbles ; for 

 it is evident that the movement of the foot would not suf- 

 fice to pierce so unyielding a body. 



One of these marble-cutters has acquired a great celeb- 

 rity in the annals of geology, from its having attacked the 

 temple of Jupiter Serapis at Pozzuoli, on the border of the 

 Mediterranean, and almost on a level with its waves. 



It is a Modiolus which has cut numerous excavations 

 in the beautiful columns of this sanctuary, and has even 

 gnawed them in an unsightly manner for the space of about 

 three feet at a height of six to seven feet above the fore- 

 court. Philosophers suppose that at some epoch, of which 

 history makes no mention, this celebrated temple had sunk 

 in the sea, owing to one of those movements in the soil so 

 common in volcanic countries ; that it was then invaded by 

 the stone-eating molluscs ; and that afterwards, being raised 

 by a contrary movement, like a scene on the stage, the 

 monument, rising like magic from the bosom of the waves, 

 reappeared in the air, displaying to our astonished eyes the 

 destruction effected by the animals which had gnawed it 

 during its stay below the waters. 



But the labor of the mollusc and the double movement 

 of the famous temple will perhaps long remain enveloped 



