Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/230

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FOR RETREATING.
183


plates to be about one thousand nine hundred, each of which is wielded by muscles at the will of the animal; while, as each plate carries seven teeth, there are between thirteen and fourteen thousand teeth hooked into the lining membrane of the cell, when the animal chooses to descend. No wonder, with so many muscles wielding so many grappling hooks, that the retreat is so rapidly effected!

A group of Serpule of the species which I have been describing, is represented in Plate V.