APORRHAIS. 161 



a number of large Strombi by the spire^ that the animals when 

 dead might fall from the shell. They had remained in this 

 situation several days, till the body, weak and emaciated, 

 hung down nearly a foot from the aperture, and the eyes 

 had become dim. I found that even before my shadow 

 could pass over tliem they were aware of my presence, and 

 endeavoured to withdraw into the shell ; I then cut off the 

 eyes, with the thick, cartilaginous tentacula in which they 

 were lodged, but the animals still continued to be sensible 

 of my near approach, while hanging in this mutilated and 

 painful condition.'''' 



Our two species of Aporrliais, however, have been subject 

 to no such barbarous trials, although they have been cap- 

 tured and carefully observed. 



The head has a produced, rather tapering muzzle, divided 

 at the end into two lobes ; tentacles very long, with eyes on 

 rather distinct knobs at their base; foot, seen underneath, 

 presenting a bell-shaped disc ; mantle spread into fingers. 



The young shell is turreted, and not very unlike a Ceri- 

 thlum in appearance; it has rows of oblique tubercles on 

 the tapering whorls, but when full grown the outer lip 

 thickens and expands into lobes or fingers, which have a 

 groove in the centre of each, so as to present a not inapt re- 



M 



