THE PLANORBIS COMPLANATUS. 19 



at the side of the river, on the corners and crevices of wiiich I was 

 accustomed to hide myself in stormy weather, only much whiter and 

 smoother. This I afterwards learnt was what they call in the upper 

 world an Oar. " Oh it is only a Planorbis Complauatus " exclaimed some 

 gigantic being near me, " throw it in again ;" to which another human 

 monster replied "you may as well keep it, you have not too many." 

 This conversation I listened to as you may believe with mingled feelings. 

 In the first place my mother poor thing, she died before I came, though 

 my egg shell had given no information about my origin and family, and 

 consequently this was the first time I had heard my name. My family I 

 knew was very ancient as I had heard from some conversation with an 

 elder brother, and I have since heard that a great authority on genealogies, 

 a Mr. Darwin has declared that we are descended from the distinguished 

 family Pleurosigma, a noble branch of the famous race of Diatoms. 

 Again I was indignant at the small estimation in which the first speaker 

 regarded me, so I drew in my head and determined not to look at him ; 

 and indeed for what seemed to me a very long period, I was subject to 

 such fearful concussions, that had I been enabled to stifle my feelings 

 fear would have prevented me from stirring. Consequently what elapsed 

 daring these to me trying hours is better imagined than described. My 

 next recollection is a cessation of these direful jars to which I had been 

 subject, and a sensation of coolness owing to my being once more in an 

 atmosphere of water. Having remained quiet for some little time, I ven- 

 tured to put my head out and rise to the top. I had scarcely done so 

 when a horrible monster with dingy red scales, a vulgar brute I can assure 

 you, mistaking me in his blindness for a caddis worm no doubt, or some 

 other low thing upon which he feeds, opened his mouth and. sw allowed 

 me house and all. This was not to be tolerated by a personage of so good 

 family as myself, so I made a hard bite at his inside and forced him to 

 let me go again all up his red mouth, and I flatter myself that I cured him 

 of such rude inconsiderate behaviour. I fancy also the style of architecture 

 in which our family have always been accustomed to build their house must 

 have rather teased him, we always have a sharp angular moulding all round 

 it, which I think must have scratched his throat in an unpleasant way. 

 As soon as I had recovered my usually quiet demeanour, for I am not 

 accustomed to such rudeness, I began to crawl over the stones at the 

 bottom of the water, but I had not gone far before I came to a sort of 

 barrier which puzzled me exceedingly, for I did not see it until close to it, 

 and then knocked my head against it. I conclude it was a sort of stone, 

 but quite smooth, and I could see through it, and what should I see but 

 the monster who slighted me so in the river ; however, I determined not 

 to appear disconcerted, especially as there was a barrier between us, and 

 I began crawling up it. I soon to my delight met one of my family, but 

 on looking closer saw that he had not got the sharp moulding round his 

 house which we always pride ourselves on, and thought of passing by, 

 but began to entertain a feeling of reverence towards him when I saw 

 how wrinkled he was and what a long gi'teu beard he had, nearly thi'eo 



