ZONITES. 97 



relates that when he placed it under water (where it 

 is capable of remaining for a considerable time with- 

 out injury) it drew in its tentacles, at the same time 

 extending its body and making it rigid in order that 

 it might appear to be dead. Having remai-ned for a 

 few hours in this position it crawled slowly out of the 

 water, and cautiously protruding its tentacles to make 

 sure that the way was clear, it hastened to a safe 

 hiding-place and retreated within its shell. 



The expedient of feigning death, or sometimes 

 lameness, during moments of alarm, is frequently re- 

 sorted to by animals. Some beetles when molested 

 will roll over and remain quite motionless, as if they 

 w^ere dead. The lapwing, when the approach of a 

 stranger imperils the safety of her eggs or young, 

 wheels in circles round the intruder's head, uttering 

 the while her plaintive cry, then suddenly darting off 

 to a distance she lights upon the ground, and feigning 

 lameness, runs limping along, inviting his pursuit in 

 the hope of decoying him far away from her nest. 



Var. I. depressiiiscida, Jeffr. — Shell rather oval and flatter 

 on both sides ; spire scarcely raised above the level of the last 

 whorl. Near Swansea and Plymouth (J. G. J.), B.C. 



Var. 2. Dillwy7iii, Jeffr. — Shell nearly globular, with the last 

 whorl very convex ; spire more prominent. Sandhills near 

 Swansea, at the roots of Rosa spi7iosissima (J. G. J.), B.C. 



GENUS IIL—ZONI'TES* DE MO NT FORT. 



Body elongated, capable of being entirely contained within 

 the shell ; mantle thick, slightly reflected ; tentacles 4, cylin- 

 drical, swollen at their tips; foot long, slender ; /^w smooth, 

 more or less beaked ; edge teeth of Ungual ribbon hooked. 



* From the Latin word zona^ a girdle. 



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