358 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



stances have been recorded of their importation from 

 distant countries in a living state. In June 1850, a 

 living pond-mussel was sent to Mr Gray from Austra- 

 lia, which had been more than a year out of water. 

 The pond-snails have been found alive in logs of ma- 

 hogany from Honduras ; and M. Cailland carried some 

 from Egypt to Paris packed in sawdust. Indeed, it is 

 not easy to ascertain the limit of their endurance ; for 

 Mr Laidlay, having placed a number in a drawer for 

 this purpose, found them alive after five years, although 

 in the warm climate of Calcutta. ^Ir Y/ollaston has 

 told us that specimens of two Madeira snails survived 

 a fast imprisonment in pill-boxes of two years and a 

 half. But the most interesting example of resuscita- 

 tion occurred to a specimen of the desert snail from 

 Egypt, chronicled by Dr Baird. This individual was 

 fixed to a tablet in the British Museum on the 25th 

 March 1846 ; and on the 7th March 1850 it was ob- 

 served that he must have come out of his shell in the 

 interval (as the paper had been discoloured, apparently 

 in his attempt to get away), but finding escape impos- 

 sible, had again retired, closing his aperture with the 

 usual glistening film ; this led to his immersion in 

 tepid water and marvellous recovery. He is now 

 (March 13, 1850) alive and flom-ishing, and has sat for 

 his portrait." 



The Molluscs, like the heathen idols, have eyes for 

 the most part, yet see not ; organs of hearing, yet hear 

 not ; nevertheless, unlike the heathen idols, they are 

 endowed with these organs for no " make-believe,'' but 



