63 



TAB. XXXI. 

 SERPULA triquetrai 



Class 6. Vermes. Order 3. Testacea. 



Gen. Char. Animal a terebella. Shell univalve^ 

 tubular, generally adhering to other substances ; 

 often separated internally by divisions at uncertain 

 distances. — Turt. 



Spec. Char. Shell creeping, flexuous^ triangular. 



oYN. Serpula triquetra. Turt. Linn. v. 4. 603. 



1 HOSE who find recreation in admiring the works of 

 Nature are seldom at a loss for amusement, and the most 

 common circumstances of our lives bring into our way 

 something or other to excite curiosity. The present little 

 animal was observed fixed to an oyster shell, occasionally 

 protruding itself from its own curious shell. T put it into 

 some salt and water and preserved it some hours, and oc- 

 casionally watched its motions ; which being somewhat 

 slow, gave mc an opportunity to examine it more tho- 

 roughly, and I was in hopes of seeing it work. The in- 

 strument like a proboscis with a bell-shaped end, which is 

 but seldom exposed, seemed adapted for assisting in making 

 the case : this however is only conjecture, as we could not 

 comprehend any thing like the certain use of it. At length 



