VERONICELLID.*:. 231 



Fam. VERONICELLIDiE. 



Animal elongate, litnaciform. Lingual dentition similar 

 to that of OnchidiidcB. Mouth without horny jaws, and 

 not covered with a buccal veil. Eyes at the end of con- 

 tractile peduncles ; tentacles bifid, non-retractile. Mantle 

 greatly extended, coriaceous, smooth, covering the back; ori- 

 fice of respiratory sac on the right side under the mantle- 

 margin. Foot narrow, simple posteriorly. Vent distinct, 

 posterior. Orifices of reproductive organs widely separated ; 

 male organ behind the right tentacle, female orifice midway 

 on the right side beneath the mantle. 



Shell none. 



The animals composing this group approach very nearly 

 those of Onchidiidae, but they have bifid tentacles, and the 

 disposition of the orifices of reproduction is different. The 

 Veronicelhe of South America live in families, hiding 

 under the trunks of trees and in fissures near the water, 

 or on dry ground, and are never aquatic. They quit 

 their retreats during the night, or during the day when 

 it rains. In the dry season they remain in a torpid state 

 under the earth, dead leaves, or stones. Continued immer- 

 sion in fresh water kills them, and their drowned bodies 

 may frequently be seen after inundations. The species of the 

 Old World live principally upon the trees in shady places 

 and damp parts of the forests, concealing themselves under 

 the leaves during the greater part of the day ; they crawl 

 quickly, and leave no slimy trace behind them like the Li- 

 macida. Their eggs are largo and oval, ten or fifteen 

 being joined together in a necklace-like, gelatinous thread, 

 which is coiled, and more or less covered with mucus. 



