OCEAN GARDENS; 



the currents of water whicli pass between their 

 fibres. The Sahella, an allied tribe, forms its tube 

 of mud ; while that of the Serpula is always of hard 

 shell. The golden-combed worm, Amphitrite auri- 

 coma, nnotlier singular creature of this class, maybe 

 best alluded to in this place. Just below the cork- 

 like head, when it leaves its tubular shell, are the 

 scarlet gills, slightly resembling those of fishes, and 

 across the head the golden comb -like appendage is 

 expanded, from which it derives its popular name- 

 When the animal retires within its tube, the upper 

 part of the head has, like the Serptil(E, all the ap- 

 pearance of a cork or small stopper. This creature 

 is one of the most curious of its class. 



The Balani, or Acorn-shells, which are generally 

 parasitic, fixing themselves to the shell of the 

 Whelk or some other univalve, spread their crimson 

 tentacles when seeking food exactly in the manner 

 of the Serpul(je, the feathery filaments forming a 

 kind of living casting-net, as it has been observed, 

 in which the minute Annelid or Infusory is en- 

 tangled and devoured. Two Balani are represented 

 in Plate VII. on the shell of a common Whelk. 



The HolothuriadcBy or Sea-Cucumbers, are very 

 singular creatures ; their form, as it floats in the 

 waters, exhibiting as good a miniature representa- 



88 



