NEBULA TO MAN 
"Sea-urchin " creatures in a " hedgehog " skin 
Now first appear about the briny scene. 
Here too amid the life around that swarms, 25 
Some brittle-stars are sprawling on their arms ; 
With locomotion seemingly a toil, 
And glad are they round Coral forms to coil 
For rest against the currents. Forms allied 
To Barnacles are also in the tide. 30 
Pearl-oyster looking creatures too are here. 
Horse-mussel, Cockle, Scallop forms appear. 
Some sword-tailed king-crabs seeking wormy food 
Are raking with their nippers in the mud. 
And Nautiloids are now about the sea, 35 
Whose long cone shells are ended spirally. 
Here too some early Ammonoids we find, 
In coiled-up shells that well may call to mind 
The horns of rams. (Hence gain they Ammon's name, 
The god with head of ram, and human frame.) 40 
And from the Ammonoid ranks in time will rise, 
In various forms, great mollusk families ; 
For which the Goniatites, already here 
In simply twisted shells, the way prepare. 
Sea-scorpions, pincer armed, with compound eyes 45 
And shelly carapace, now exercise 
A lordship where they live. For Nature's hand 
Raises now this, now that class to command ; 
16 
