COUCHOLOGY OF HERM. 79 



the whole population of both sexes and of all ages, had turned' out with 

 their baskets on their backs, to take advantage of the occasion to seek 

 for shell-fish. 



Touzeau was our guide, and a very useful and intelligent one we found 

 him; for having been in the habit of accompanying some of our most sci- 

 entific and persevering marine naturalists in their researches upon these 

 coasts, he was well acquainted with the shell rarities and their habitats. 

 He at once led us away from the muddy flats immediately before us, to 

 a rocky point nearly a mile distant, towards which all the fishermen and 

 women likewise directed their course. 



Having arrived at our hunting-ground, we proceeded at once to turn 

 over the stones and large pieces of rock which lay profusely scattered 

 around; and none but an enthusiastic naturalist can understand the glorious 

 excitement of stone-turning upon a rich coast, such as this. It was no 

 mere child's play, either, for many of the rocks were of a size to require 

 our united forces to move; moreover, we were always mid-leg deep in 

 water, and sometimes, in wading from one place to another, nearly up to 

 our waists; but we were rewarded by perpetual discoveries of novelties or 

 rarities, or else of some unusually large or finely-developed specimen, and 

 loud and eager were the shouts from one to the other as each successive 

 block was turned over, and fresh treasures displayed themselves to the 

 eye and grasp of the delighted seekers. 



Here were the large tropical-looking Ear- shell, {Haliotis tuherculata,) in 

 abundance — a Mediterranean form, of which the Channel Islands constitute 

 the northern limit; these adhered to the stones with marvellous tenacity, 

 and were only to be dislodged by a sudden and severe blow. Under the 

 name of "Ormers," they are much sought for, and largely consumed by 

 the inhabitants of the Channel Islands, who esteem them excellent meat; but 

 to us they proved tough, strong, and disagreeable, though cooked by 

 Touzeau's fair daughter after the most approved fashion. 



Besides these, we found adhering to rocks and stones, Anomia ephippium, 

 and striata, Acmcea virginea, Area lactea, and tetragona, Einarginula 

 reticulata, Fissurella reticulata, Chiton discrepans, Trochus exiguus, and 

 striatus, Marex corallinus, (this latter in great abundance,) and lastly, that 

 most peculiar and interesting bivalve Galeomma Turtoni, the desire of seeing 

 which in its natural habitat, had largely influenced us in selecting Herm 

 for our conchologising ground. It is found but sparingly, and only at one 

 point on the coast, which, without the guidance of Touzeau, we should 

 probably never have discovered; as it was we did not obtain more than 

 half a dozen examples, none of which were large : but it was most 

 interesting to observe the mollusk adhering with expanded valves to the 

 under side of stones, its white mantle covering the shell externally, and 



