voscikh.dhy. 171) 



Famihj Siphonariidae. 



SiriroyAKiA, liJainvillc. 



Slit'll limpet-shapeil, with a siplional groove on tlie riglit side. Animiil lives 

 ■within reach of tlic tide on roeks, like limpets, but breathes air. Respiratory oritico 

 closed by a large fleshy lobe of the mantle (Adams). 



,, sp. One or more species common on the coast. 



Sub-class UETEROrODA. 



Animal oceanic, predatory, bisexual. 



Family lantliinidae. 

 Ianthijta, BoJfen. 



The ' violet snails ' arc furnished with a swimming ' raft ' of cartilaginous air- 

 sacs, beneath which the ovarian capsules are arranged. This ' raft ' is an extreme 

 modification of the operculum of other genera. When molested, these animals exude 

 a violet-coloured fluid (similar in colour to their shells), derived, it is thought, from 

 the ' velella ' and other acalephs whereon they feed. 



Class CEPHALOPODA. 



Free oceanic mollusks. Sexes distinct. Reproduction by ova of comparatively 

 large size. No metamorphosis. 



Head distinct, furnished with limbs usually armed with pneumatic cups and 

 sometimes claws, which are used both ior locomotion and for securing their prey. 

 Eyes well developed, and mouth furnished with a jiowerful parrot-like beak, capable 

 of crushing Crustacea and fish. Unisexual. There is also an oral tube or siphuncle 

 from which water can be forcibly expelled, thereby causing the animal to dart swiftly 

 in an opposite direction. " Their warfare," says Dr. Johnston, " though cruel is open. 

 The long flexible arms tliat encircle the head arc furnished with dozens of cup-like 

 suckers often pointed with sharj) recurved teeth. It must be a fearful thing for any 

 living creature to come within their compass or within their leap; for captured by a 

 sudden spring of several feet, made with the rapidity of lightning, and entangled in 

 the slimy serpentine grasp of eight or ten arms, and held by the pressure of some 

 hundi-eds of exhausted cups, escape is hopeless." 



Order POLYPODA. 



Body inclosed in the last chamber of an external chambered siphuncled shell. 

 Limbs numerous, tentacular, without cups. Gills four. 



*Nautilus pojipilfus, L. 



Dr. George Bennett gives the following description of the mode employed for 

 capturing the pearly nautilus by the i'ijians(Proe. Zool. See. Lend. 1859, p. 227): — 

 "The Feejeeans esteem the pearly nautilus highly as an agreeable viand, and their 

 mode of capturing it, for tlie embers or for the pot, is not a little interesting. When 

 the water is smooth, so that the bottom, at several fathoms of depth, near the border 

 of the reef, may be distinctly seen, the fisherman, in his little fi'ail canoe, scrutinizes 

 the sand, and the coral masses below to discover the animal in its favourite haunts. 

 The experienced eye of the native may probably encounter it in its usual position, 

 clinging to some prominent ledge, with the shell turned downwards, and preparations 

 are accordingly made for its capture. The tackle consists, first, of a large round 

 wickerwork basket, shaped very much like a cage rat-trap, having an opening above, 

 with a circle of points directed inwards, so as to permit of entry but preclude 

 escape ; secondly, a rough piece of native rope of sufficient length to reach the 

 bottom ; and, thii'dly, a small piece of branched wood, with the branches sharpened 



