I have lately seen a specimen of _T. littoralis_ which a friend of mine was so fortunate as to capture. The tube of the animal, instead of being in its usual position, was situated in a pool, and offered a most rare prize to its discoverer, it being the only one he had ever caught. The tube, being of great length, was cut down to about six inches and transferred to a shallow glass tank, in which was introduced some pounded shells. The beautiful Annelid soon made itself at home, and commenced to repair the damage done to its habitation by collecting these particles, by means of its tentacula, which were thrown out to an extraordinary distance in all directions. The result of the animal's labours was soon apparent by a most amusing white patch being added to each end of its dark tube. As soon as this operation was completed _mon ami_ carefully tore up the patched garment, and ejected the defenceless Terebella into the vessel, wherein was placed a piece of glass tube that measured an inch in length. Strange to state, the animal instantly crept into this object, and soon made itself quite at home and comfortable. When the building materials were placed near, they were collected and _attached to each end of the glass cylinder_ by the little architect, who doubtless was the first of its 'family' who could boast of such a noble mansion,--which ultimately assumed a very remarkable aspect from the variously-coloured 'mortar' that was employed in its construction. Above and below the transparent centre came patches of red, white, and blue material, composed respectively of broken tile, pounded shells, and coloured glass. Such a 'concourse of atoms' was surely never before combined, either 'fortuitously' or otherwise, in the construction of so common an object as the tube of an Annelid. The branchiæ of the above mentioned specimen presented a most exquisite appearance, resembling the perfect skeleton of a leaf, supposing that to be dyed a brilliant crimson colour, and made to exhibit incessant life-like motion even in its most delicate and minute ramifications. CHAPTER XIII. Acalephæ. (MEDUSÆ, OR JELLY-FISH.) 'And now your view upon the ocean turn, And there the splendour of the waves discern; Cast but a stone, or strike them with an oar, And you shall flames within the deep explore; Or scoop the stream phosphoric as you stand, And the cold flames shall flash along your hand, When lost in wonder, you shall walk and gaze On weeds that sparkle, and on waves that blaze.' XIII. There are certain narrow-minded persons who raise objections to men of science prying into the secrets of nature, and profanely, as they think, attempting to explain the design and purpose of the great Creator.