Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/308

Rh "It is not easy to express the pleasure which is excited in the mind of the observer of nature, while contemplating the habit and manners of the Annelida. Every movement exemplifies the curve of beauty; every tentacle winds ceaselessly and rapidly through a thousand forms of matchless grace. Whether coiling round a visible object, or picking up a microscopic molecule for the construction of the cell, it exhibits a delicacy and precision of aim, which the erudite finger of the most skilful artisan never equalled. The refined precision of its muscular performances, is matched only by its exquisite sensibility. Like the human hand, of which the manifold endownments have exhausted the admiring eloquence of philosophers and theologians, it unites in its little self the most varied capacities. It is at once an eye, an ear, a nose, and a finger: it sees, it hears, it smells, it touches. Leading for the most part a subaqueous or subterranean life, the sense of sight in the Annelid is little required; and gifted in every part of the body with a superlative tenderness of touch, the sense of hearing is rendered unnecessary. Anatomy accordingly demonstrates only the obscurest rudiments of an organ of vision, while that of hearing has eluded the scrutiny of the minutest examination. Is it not to be marvelled at, that these humble beings should see without eyes, and smell without a nose? It is not affirmed that this is literally and entirely true; but it is exact to a degree enough to prove the wondrous manner in which the sense of touch is made to supersede all the other senses.

"Whether progressing on the solid surface, or