72 Natural History of Molluscous Animals: — 



the species : but to make a conjectural approximation to the 

 solution of this question, let us assume that the enumeration 

 of the species given by Lamarck is equally defective in all 

 the families (and I know of no fairer mode of coming at the 

 truth), when we shall find that the phytophagous are less by 

 a third than the zoophagous ; so that Meckel errs in asserting 

 that the great bulk of the gasteropodes live on vegetable 

 matters. 



782 



The marine tribes live on sea weed, — 



" part single, or with mate, 



Graze the sea weed their pasture, and through groves 

 Of coral stray ; " 



and it is probable that the species in general are not limited 

 to any particular weed, nor are even very nice in their selec- 

 tion. At the same time, it may be observed, that some are 

 rarely found except on one and the same plant, as, for 

 example, the pretty Patella pellucida, which pastures almost 

 uniformly on the broad frond of Laminaria digitata, and has 

 shown both sense and taste in choosing so wide and tender a 

 field. The land tribes seem to refuse no tender herb : we 

 know that they will eat with avidity the spring corn, clover, 

 peas, and turnips; they are very fond of all kinds of fruit; 

 and the mushrooms afford them a grateful delicacy, even the 

 acrid and milky species being greedily devoured by them. 

 To me, they seem to prefer all these in a fresh state : my 

 personal observation leads certainly to this conclusion, though 

 I am aware it has been said that they, like modern epicures, 

 are fonder of their food when it has advanced some way to 

 putrefaction. Dr. Fleming says : — " Those which are phy- 

 tivorous appear to prefer living vegetables, and refuse to eat 

 those which are dried. We are not aware that putrid vege- 



