THE HEARING OF MOLLUSCS. 355 



and the transitory form of that organ in the embryo of the 

 fish. 



With such an organ, a mere bag of pebbles in liquid, only 

 a slight degree of that exquisite sense, known by us as Hear- 

 ing, can be claimed by the interesting animal which natu- 

 ralists are fond of styling " the humble Mollusc/' / never 

 detected any humility in Molluscs ; and if they seem humble 

 in the eyes of haughty ignorance, a little knowledge of their 

 structure will soon remove tliat misconception. It is true, 

 they give no dinners, and are perfectly regardless of the 

 higher circles ; they trouble themselves very little about any 

 of the "great movements ;" they do nothing for the "Pro- 

 gress of the Species \' leave the Jews unconverted ; have no 

 views on the "Ballot;" and are utterly insensible to the 

 advantages of "Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister." 

 But they have their little world, and are as perfectly con- 

 structed for it as we are, who condescend to notice and 

 patronisingly admire them.* In that world they do not 

 need what we need. They hear nothing of the marvellous 

 inflections of speech, the tremulous tenderness of affection, 

 the harsh trumpet-tones of strife, the musical intonations 

 of mirth. They cannot hear the prattle of children's voices, 

 which sends such thrills along our nerves ; nor can they hear 

 the untiring eloquence of a vexed virago, which also sends 



• " Lcs mollusques sont les pauvresct les aflBigfe parmi les 6tres de la cr6a- 

 tion," says Virey, who originated the principle of Cu«or's classification, but 

 who was talking at random when he thus spoke. In creation there is neither 

 high nor low ; there arc only complex and simple org-anisations, one as perfect 



as the other. 



