274 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



moved about with a gentle waving motion, and, both 

 from their lovely tints and graceful appearance, are 

 always elegant objects to look upon. This partial pro- 

 trusion from their tube is effected by means of the 

 little hook-like appendages to the various rings of the 

 body, by whose assistance the Serpula climbs up the 

 inside of its tube ; just in the same way as the chim- 

 ney-sweep climbs a chimney, or rather used to do, 

 for we believe that sable race is now extinct. On the 

 slightest alarm of danger intimated by the agitation 

 of the surrounding water for the animal has no eyes 

 it at once retires into its abode, and carefully closing 

 the orifice by means of the parasol-like expansion 

 upon its head, remains safe from the intrusion of its 

 enemies. 



We know but little as to the kind of food upon 

 which the Serpulse are nourished, and nothing at all 

 concerning their mode of reproduction. It may be 

 supposed, however, that they live upon aquatic ani- 

 malcules, which are caught by the aid of their 

 branchial tentacles ; and we may likewise conjecture, 

 from the construction of the calcareous tube, that the 

 young are born without any such protection. Per- 

 haps some of our readers may find an opportunity of 

 enlightening us relative to these portions of their 

 history. 



The Spirorbis is another shell constructed by mi- 

 nute Annelidans, still more common than the pre- 

 ceding ; for upon the beach it is scarcely possible 

 to pick up a piece of sea-weed without finding it 

 studded over with numerous specimens. The shelly 

 tubes inhabited by these little worms are exceedingly 



