APLASIA. 219 



lias been attributed tlie most deleterious qualities and the 

 most ferocious habits, and which has always been an object 

 of superstitious fear. 



Although, hke many other very innocent and harmless 

 molluscs, the Ajdi/sue exude a purplish liquor when irri- 

 tated and alarmed, it is difficult to account for the special 

 dread which they have always inspired. Why should the 

 purple juice of the Purjmra be sought as a precious object, 

 and honoured in the adornment of royal garments, while 

 the poor Sea-hare, for seeking to hide himself in a cloud of 

 similar liquid, should be denounced as a fountain of poison 

 which it is death to touch ? Or why should the latter be 

 deemed a monster of ferocity for feeding only partially on 

 animal matter, while the former, which, as we have seen, 

 will greedily gnaw the substance of a living mollusc, or 

 swallow a bivalve whole, is considered a very innocent crea- 

 ture ? Yet such is the caprice of popular opinion : it de- 

 pends upon purely accidental circumstances, whether an 

 action or habit shall be regarded with favour or looked upon 

 with abhorrence and disgust. 



Our Aplijsia hi/hrida, or Lajplysia depilans, is of mo- 

 derate size, specimens being sometimes about two inches 

 long when crouching or at rest, and twice the length when 



