COMMON OBJECTS OP THE SHORE. 311 



eyed creature, it is not sleek and plump, but it 

 resembles it in one circumstance, rare among the 

 inhabitants of the sea, in that it has silky hairs 

 thinly scattered about it. Stiff bristly hairs also 

 are placed on its upper surface, which make it a 

 rough-looking animal. These are often half an 

 inch long, and of most beautiful iridescent hues, 

 reflecting the red, or orange, or green, or violet, 

 which glitter on the neck of the drake, or gleaming 

 forth like gold, which ever and anon betrays some 

 tinge of green or purple. The sea-mouse is oblong, 

 rather flat, from five to six inches in length, and 

 its upper surface covered with double rows of 

 plates, which overlap each other, and underneath 

 these are the little fleshy tufts, which are the aerat- 

 ing gills of the animal. It retains its beautiful me- 

 tallic lustre if preserved in spirits. Dr. Drummond 

 found, on placing a sea-mouse in fresh water, 

 that it almost immediately sunk to the bottom of 

 the vessel, and never again exhibited the slightest 

 symptom of life or motion. 



This singular little mouse belongs to the Anne- 

 tides, a class comprehending a great number of 

 animals, varying in general appearance, but having 

 bodies of an elongated form, composed of Brings at 

 certain distances from each other. The common 

 earthworm is a familiar instance of their structure ; 

 and any one who has watched its bending atti- 

 tudes, as it glides in and out, may have seen the 

 rings which encircle its body. By far the greater 

 number of the annelides live in or near the sea. 

 The common Lug- worm too (Arenicolapiscatorum), 

 that reddish worm, about a foot long, so frequent 

 on our level sandy shores, is an annelid. It is 

 very useful to the fishermen for bait; and if 



