TER EBELLiE. 
jT'HESE elegant animals, which inhabit the Serpulae*or“ tubular fhells ad- 
c hering to other bodies,” are of moll delicate texture, and of a femi-tranf- 
■parent iabftance: when fpreading aver the white incruftations of the ftones on 
^ dch they have their refidence, they refemble concentric circles of fome thin 
' u * c b of beautiful dyes, in colour like a rainbow. 
B. B. A piece of ftone dredged up in forty fathom water, incruded over with 
various fhells, corallines, &?< 
b. b. Several appearances of the Terebellae, iffuing forth from their fhells. 
a> The natural fize of a full-grown one, thoroughly fpread : magnified at A. 
When more than one day kept without a change of water, they evidently began 
to anguifh and decay ; their beauty and vigour became equally impaired ; — on 
* e c b a nge of water, particularly when perfectly pure, and recently brought from 
toe fea, they revived, feemed reanimated with frefh health and fpirits, fpread 
and moved their tentacula with renewed adtivity. 
An inference here is obvious ; that they draw their nourifhment and life from 
t ie pureft water in the higheft degree •, therefore muft exift on atoms or animal- 
cules in it, which no eye can fee, and which perhaps no microfcope could dis- 
cover : their fine tentacula are admirably contrived for arrefting thefe as they pafs 
a ongj the exquifite mechanifm of their ftrudture being no lefs replete with evi- 
ences of wife defign, than their beauty is expreffive of power and goodnefs in- 
comprehenfible at the head of the Creation. 
It may be laid of thefe, with equal propriety as it was, from high authority, of 
* { e t( lilies of the field,” that «* Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one 
of thefe;” and the intelligent fpeftator, with veneration and hallowed joy, 
the rational appeal — the natural effufion of gratitude and of elevated 
thought — 
CAUSE and SUPPORT of all things l^can I view 
Thefe objefts of my wonder ? can I feel 
Thefe fine fenfations, and not think of THE E ? 
// 
• See Br. Zool. vol. IV. plate xci. 
