and Habits of the Lhnpet, 



S49 



had fixed themselves, each having a direct road leading to 

 their pasturage ground. By the help of a glass, the mark- 

 ings visible on the rock were discovered to be the remains of 

 the above fucus, which had been eaten through, or trodden 

 down, by these animals in their excursions, and which re- 

 tained the indentures of their shells. The edge of the vege- 

 table surface was then examined, and found to be nibbled 

 in a circular manner, resembling the anterior margin of the 

 shells. On comparing this with the above specimen (,y%-. 57- )> 

 a remarkable difference was found to exist in the position of 

 the circular traces, which appeared chiefly the work of the 

 mouth or anterior serrations of the shell, and not like the im- 

 pressions caused by the locomotion of the animal on a soft 

 rock. 



This fact tends to prove the species of food eaten by the 

 limpet ; although I think it probable that they feed on other 

 substances besides Thalassiophytes, as I have since fomid 

 similar markings on Ziehen niger, which covers our rocks 

 below high-water mark.* Whatever doubts may exist on 

 this subject, it may be presumed that, like Patella laeVis and 

 P. pellucida, their chief food consists of marine plants ; and 

 that the cretaceous substances found in their stomachs may be, 

 as in the case of other animals, for some necessary use. The 

 rock has been revisited this year, and the shells observed in 



* " L'appareil dentaire des patelles,et leur grande abondance dans les lieux 

 couverts de Thalassiophytes, me fait soup9onner qu'elles doivent se nourrir 

 de substances vegetales; mais c'est ce que je ne puis assurer." — M.de 

 JSlainville, Dictionnaire des Sciences ^aturellesy torn. 38. 



" The dental apparatus of the Patellae, and their numbers in places 

 covered with Thalassiophytes, lead me to suspect that they feed on vege- 

 table substances ; but of this 1 have not been able to satisfy myself." 



