63 
TAB. XXXI. 
SERPULA triquetra. 
Class 6. Vermes. Order 3. Testacea. 
Gen. Char. Animal a terebella. Shell univalve, 
tubular, generally adhering to other substances ; 
often separated internally by divisions at uncertain 
distances. — Turt. 
Spec. Char. Shell creeping, flexuous, triangular. 
Syn. Serpula triquetra. Turt. Linn. v. 4. 603. 
Those who find recreation in admiring the works of 
Nature are seldom at a loss for amusement, and the most 
common circumstances of our lives bring into our way 
something or other to excite curiosity. The present little 
animal was observed fixed to an oyster shell, occasionally 
protruding itself from its own curious shell. I put it into 
some salt and water and preserved it some hours, and oc- 
casionally watched its motions ; which being somewhat 
slow, gave me an opportunity to examine it more tho- 
roughly, and I was in hopes of seeing it work. The in- 
strument like a proboscis with a bell-shaped end, which is 
but seldom exposed, seemed adapted for assisting in making 
the case : this however is only conjecture, as we could not 
comprehend any thing like the certain use of it. At length 
