•480 Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean Society. 



Belcher to offer a few observations on the structure of Chiton and 

 such remarks on Chitonellus as, in his opinion, will leave no doubt 

 of their claim to generic distinction. He notices the successive ad- 

 ditions made to these genera by Mr. Frembly, by Mr. Cuming, by 

 M. Quoy, by Capt. Belcher in the voyages of the Blossom, the Sul- 

 phur and the Samarang (and especially in the latter in company 

 with Mr. Arthur Adams), by the Rev. Mr. Hennah, by Dr. Dieffen- 

 bach, by Mr. Earl, by Mr. Ronald Gunn, by Mr. Ince, by Dr. Gould, 

 by Mr. Courthony, and by Prof. Edward Forbes and Mr, M' Andrew ; 

 and then enters into an examination of the views of authors with 

 reference to their affinity, adopting that first promulgated by Adanson 

 and now generally adopted, that they are immediately related to 

 Patella. A description of the animal is then given, and the dif- 

 ferences between it and the animal of Patella pointed out, as well as 

 the modifications to which it is subject in different species. The 

 distinctions between the shells and animals of Chiton and Chitonellus 

 are more particularly insisted on ; and the author proceeds to point 

 out a marked difference in the habits of the two genera. He states, 

 on the authority of Mr. Cuming, that while the Chitons live attached 

 to stones and fragments of shells in deep water, or more frequently 

 under masses of stone and on exposed rocks about low-water mark, 

 the Chitonelli dwell in holes and cavities, either of natural formation 

 or bored by other Mollusca, into which they thrust themselves by at- 

 tenuating their bodies in a surprising manner, sometimes turning com- 

 pletely at right angles and at angles again. Those which were only 

 partially imbedded were found to have entered holes too small to con- 

 tain them, and the posterior part of their bodies remained suspended 

 externally, fat and swollen, and constantly separating from the an- 

 terior half when any attempt was made to draw them forcibly from 

 their retreats. These remarks apply to Chitonellus fasciatus, col- 

 lected by Mr. Cuming in the Philippine Islands in great abundance 

 and of extraordinary dimensions, extending frequently to a foot or 

 more in length. Capt. Sir E. Belcher and Mr. Adams collected the 

 same species in the Korean Archipelago, where they were found in 



