THE SABELLA. 427 



One very conspicuous species is the Trumpet Sabella (Sabella 

 tubularia), which is generally found attached to stones or shells. 

 The material of which it is made is that hard, calcareous matter 

 which is employed by the serpula, and at first the two tubes seem 

 to be exactly alike. A more detailed examination will, however, 

 show that it is not twisted like that of the serpula, but is nearly 

 straight, looking very much like the military trumpet, or "tuba," 

 of the ancient Romans. In some cases this tube attains consider- 

 able length, measuring eight or nine inches from tip to mouth. 

 It is a solitary animal, and, as far as is yet known, is never found 

 grouped in masses, like many allied species. 



The gill-fan of this species is exceedingly beautiful, being white, 

 dotted profusely with scarlet, and expanding into a graceful feath- 

 ery coronet. Although the resemblance to the serpula is very 

 close, the animal may easily be distinguished by the absence of 

 the beautiful operculum or stopper, which forms so conspicuous a 

 feature in the serpula. 



Perhaps the most plentiful species of this genus is the com- 

 mon Sabella (Sabella alveolaria), which may be found in count- 

 less myriads on many of our coasts. On several sandy shores, 

 especially those of the southern coast, the wanderer by the sea 

 may perceive masses of hard, agglutinated sand, pierced with in- 

 numerable holes. These masses are of great size, and in some 

 places are strong enough to bear the pressure of a foot, though in 

 others a slight push with the hand is sufficient to detach a portion. 



If this perforated sand be closely examined, it will be seen to 

 consist of a vast number of tubes, which are fixed together, and 

 are farther consolidated by sand which has washed over them, 

 and lodged between them. When the water covers the sand 

 mass, a delicate feathery tuft is seen to protrude from each hole, 

 so that the general aspect is full of beauty. These tufts are the 

 tentacles of the Sabella, and when examined with a microscope 

 of moderate power, each tentacle is seen to be composed of a cen- 

 tral shaft, with projecting teeth or fringes on both sides. There 

 are about eighty of these tentacles, and as they are extremely flex- 

 ible and always in motion, their appearance is peculiarly elegant. 



Nothing is easier than to examine the structure of this Sabella, 

 though the task of isolating a single tube is not an easy one. A 

 penknife will soon break up the tube, and a pair of forceps will 

 easily pull out the inhabitant, in spite of the array of bristles and 



