FOOD AND HABITS OF APLYSIA. 499 



stitions shall have been thoroughly sifted and ex- 

 plained^.^ 



The Aplysm live among sea- weeds in the Lami- 

 narian zone, rarely straying out of that region. Their 

 food consists both of animal and vegetable substances, 

 although they are often stated to be exclusively 



* There is no doubt that, as far as relates to the Aplysite of 

 our own shores, the above vindication of the character of these 

 mollusks is well merited by their gentle and innocuous habits ; 

 and yet it is difficult altogether to discredit the evidence 

 afforded, not only by ancient, but by modern writers, relative to 

 the pernicious qualities of some foreign species. Bohadsch states 

 that the fishermen in the Bay of Naples excused themselves for 

 not procuring specimens, by saying that the animal was a filthy 

 thing, which stank abominably. When removed from the sea, 

 and placed in a vessel, according to this writer, there exuded a 

 large quantity of a limpid, somewhat mucilaginous fluid, 

 exhaling a sweetish, sickening, peculiar smell ; but besides this, 

 and distinct from its purple secretion, the Aplysia secretes also a 

 milky liquor, formed in an internal conglomerate gland. As 

 often as Bohadsch took the Aplysia from the vase of sea- water, 

 and placed it upon a plate with the view of more narrowly exami- 

 ning its structure, the apartment was filled with a most foetid, 

 nauseous odour, compelling his wife and brother to leave the 

 room. He himself could scarcely endure it, and had frequently 

 to go out and breathe the fresh air. His hands and cheeks 

 swelled after handling the creature for any length of time ; but 

 he is uncertain whether the swelling of the face proceeded from 

 the halitus merely, or from having touched it with his hand 

 besmeared with the liquid : probably the latter was the real 

 cause, for when he purposely applied some of it to his chin, the 

 hair came off from the part. Bohadsch, De Anim. Mar. 



An Aplysia, which Mr. Darwin met with at St. Jago, exudes 

 an acrid secretion, which " causes a sharp, pungent sensation, 

 similar to that produced by the Physalia, or Portuguese man- 

 of-war." 



