126 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XIV, 



European whelk (Biicciniim). The ova are deposited in a many- 

 chambered stiff parchment-like egg-capsule of striking and peculiar 

 appearance. In general form it is an elongated, loosely spiral, annul- 

 lated cylinder, divided transversely by partitions into a number 

 of chambers, each representing one capsule unit ; the whole looks 

 like a minature ram's horn, corrugated and twisted, set point down- 

 wards in the sand. When newly formed it is pale opaque yellow 



in colour ; with age it darkens, and 

 becomes covered with low growths 

 of algce. It stands upright on the 

 sea-bottom, the lower and first 

 formed end rooted in the sand by 

 means of a broad, flange-shaped, 

 anchoring disc. The lower end is 

 narrow and neck-like, the chambers 

 there small ; these gradually in- 

 crease in size, till at a point about 

 one-third of the length from the base 

 they attain a maximum size, which 

 is maintained thence to the abruptly 

 truncate summit. The total height 

 of the capsule is from 7 to 10 inches. 

 In reality the case is a compound 

 capsule, consisting of a number, 25 

 to 30 or more, of discoidal capsules 

 attached at one point on the edge to 

 a broad basement band that runs 

 along one side of the case from 

 base to summit (fig. 16). Without 

 this knowledge it would be difficult 

 to understand the complicated 

 structure. The various capsules 

 are closely set, the " roof " of one 

 practically touching the "floor" 

 of the one above. In the floor of 

 each capsule is a crescentic slit 

 parallel with the front edge, hence 

 when the case sways to the current, the partition walls of the 

 individual capsules gape slightly and so allow a circulation of 



Fir.. 



16. Kgg capsule of ihe Sacred 

 Chank. X i- 



