174 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



NATICA. — SEEMING FORESIGHT IN DEPOSITING EGGS. — PARTLY COVERED 



SHELL. — SWIMMING. — CRAWLING. AT REST. — CARNIVOROUS. — SPECIES. 



VELUTINA. LAMELLARIA. 



TsTATICIDJE and VELUTINIDiE. 



Natica. — Loosely coiled on the sandy beach or hanging on 

 some ledge of rock, is sometimes found a thin, half-spiral, 

 gristly substance, lightly coated with loose sand, which ad- 

 heres to it in consequence of its gelatinous nature : it is 

 transparent, and being carefully examined will be found di- 

 vided into hexagonal grains : this is the nest of the Natica, 

 and each hexagon contains the germ of a mollusc, glued to 

 the sides of six of its future brothers and sisters. The form 

 of the mass is that of a hoop spirally twisted. The female 

 has sagaciously contrived the curve of her gelatinous deposit 

 so as to fit it for rolling on the surface of the sand without 



