J 825.] - ScimificNoticeS'^Zootogi// ^ 153 



Poli agrees with Aristotle and Dr. Leach that the animal has 

 no muscular attachment to the shell; which was the chief 

 argument used by the latter, that it was not its real builder, and 

 indeed the latter, on the authority of the late Mr. Cranch, states 

 that they sometimes swim about without their shells, and even 

 exchange them for others. The fact with regard to the egg 

 requires to be verified. Would it not be a fit subject for the pencil 

 of Bauer? 



The want of the muscular attachment of the animal to the 

 shell is an anomaly amongst Mollusca, as is also a truly external 

 and celled shell amongst Cephalissodes. Indeed the form and 

 structure of the shell gives reason to believe that its former i^ 

 more nearly allied to the genera Carinaria and Firola, — J. E. 0. 



5. On the Animal of Cali/ptnea. 



Messrs. Deshayes, (Annals Sci. Nat.) and Deslonchamps, 

 {Rev. EncycL) have lately examined the animal of the genus 

 Calyptraa of Lanark, (Patella China noistain) and found it very 

 similar to that of the genus Crepadula dissected by Cu?ier ; 

 indeed it only differs slightly in the position of the gills imd 

 abdominal viscera caused by the more orbicular form o|; the 

 shell. Their account agrees with the dissection I made 4iree 

 years ago, and proves that the two above-named genei^ are 

 exceedingly allied. 



6. On the Genus Plagiostoma, 



M. De France has lately divided the genus of Plagiostoma 

 as established by Mr. Sowerby into two genera. The first, for 

 those species found in the chalk (as P. spinosa and P. Hoperi, 

 Sow.) which he conceived to be aUied to Terebratula; me has 

 given the name of Pachi/ta with the following characters : shell 

 bivalve, regular; hinge, toothless; the cardinal edge of one valve 

 straight: of the other deeply cut with a triangular sinus, for 

 the passage of the tendenoag pedicle. Secondly, for those 

 found in the more ancient strata he keeps the name Plagiostoma, 

 and gives for the genus the following character ; shell bivalve, 

 inequilateral, slightly eared ; cardinal edge, transverse, straight, 

 umbones rather distant. Hinge toothless, with a conical liga- 

 ment cavity situated under the umbones. These shells are 

 usually very thin, and M. pe France considers them to have 

 lived m the glush of the sea-shore, as they are usually filled 

 with a fine paste ; the genus appears to be allied to Lima, and 

 consequently to the Family PectenidiE, — J. E. G. 



7. On Fossil Elks. 



Dr. Hilbert has given two interesting papers on the Fossil 

 Elk discovered in the marsh pits of the Isle of Man ; in which 

 he attempts to prove that the bones are post diluvian, and 



