THE TKUMPET SABELLA. 405 



termed the Weaver Teeebella {Terebella textrix) from the 

 curious submarine home which it makes. 



Not content with using the glutinous secretion as a means for 

 binding together the muddy particles of which the tube is made, 

 it spins a kind of web, bearing some resemblance to that of the 

 spider, and being quite a complicated piece of work. This web 

 is composed of many threads, which are very strong, but are also 

 veiy fine, and in consequence are almost invisible when in the 

 water, and as their substance is quite translucent, like the 

 threads of isinglass. The threads encircle the body, and as it is 

 only made in the month of May, when the eggs are deposited, it 

 is in all probability employed more for the sake of guarding the 

 eggs than protecting the body. 



The tube of the Weaver Terebella is very small, not sufficing 

 to cover more than half the body. The worm seems to be more 

 independent of its tube than is usually the case, frequently 

 vacating and returning to it, and sometimes making two or three 

 tubes near each other, and living in any of them which it may 

 happen to prefer at the time. 



We now come to a group of tube-building annelids which 

 are called Sabellse, because they live in the sand, and in most 

 cases form their tubes of that material The general appearance 

 of the tube is extremely variable. In some cases it bears so 

 great a resemblance to the dwelling of the serpula, that a prac- 

 tised eye is needed to discover the distinction. 



One very conspicuous species is the TiiUiiPET Sabella [Sahella 

 tubularia) which is generally found' attached to stones or shells. 

 The material of which it is made, is that hard, calcareous matter 

 which is employed by the serpula, and at first the two tubes 

 seem to be exactly alike. A more detailed examination will, 

 however, show that it is not twisted like that of the serpula, but 

 is nearly straight, looking very much like the military trumpet, or 

 " tuba," of the ancient Eomans. In some cases this tube attains 

 considerable length, measuring eight or nine inches from tip to 

 mouth. It is a solitary animal, and as far as is yet known, is 

 never found grouped in masses, like many allied species. 



The gill-fan of this species is exceedingly beautiful, being 

 white, dotted profusely with scarlet, and expanding into a 

 graceful feathery coronet. Although the resemblance to tlie 



