THE MOST ANCIENT MASON. 231 



genus. It is a worm closely allied to the Sadellm and 

 SerpulcB, but haviiig the head adoraed with a great 

 number of long thread-like tentacles, in place of the 

 beautiful fans and other apparatus that distinguish 

 those genera. In general the Terebella inhabits a 

 tube, not formed of solid shell like that of the Serpu- 

 la, nor of mud like that of the Sahella ; but one most 

 ingeniously fabricated by its own tentacles, built up of 

 minute particles of sand or small fragments of shells, 

 which it lays with elegance and neatness in a cement 

 of its own construction. From the creation of the 

 world this little worm has been practising the ancient 

 and honorable craft of masonry, forming his vaulted 

 tunnels of unhewn stones (for what are atoms of sand 

 hut stones ?) and bedding them with Eoman cement, 

 that " sets" under water. And hence I would respect- 

 fully suggest to the worthy brotherhood of Free and 

 Accepted Masons, whether they do not injustice to 

 themselves in tracing their origin no farther than 

 Father Adam, since assuredly the Terebellm were 

 not only brethren but masters of the craft, before 

 he began existence, — by half a day at least. 



If any of my readers should wish to see specimens of 

 this ancient mason's art,nothing is easierthan to gratify 

 the desire. Go and turn over the loose stones that 

 lie on the sandy shore along the line of low-water, 

 and you will find in sufficient abundance sandy tubes 

 of the size of a goose-quill, and several inches in 

 length, so brittle as hardly to endure removal, im- 

 bedded in the earth. These are the habitations of ■ 

 T. chrysodon, most commonly empty and deserted ; 

 hut not infrequently the long slender tentacles of this 



