2o8 Shell Life 



than a third of an inch in length, and a fourtli of 

 an inch in breadth, but it makes up for its small 



size by its exceeding- 

 beauty. The animal is 

 very like those of the 

 Top-shells, and like some 

 of them it moves one half 

 the foot at a time in 

 .■-..,„ 77/1 A\ P'lidincr. The operculum, 



Head of rhutnanella (enlarged) fe ^ to 1 ' 



which we found to be 

 thin and horny in the Top-shells, is solid and shelly, 

 ear-shaped, and concave below. The shell, which 

 is oval, semi-transparent, and highly polished, has 

 usually a clear yellow or white for its ground 

 colour, uj^on which are laid numerous variable 

 oblique or zigzag streaks and spots of crimson 

 or purple. There is no umbilicus. It is a couniion 

 species on the south and west coasts of England ; 

 round Ireland ; Oban, Mull, Stonehaven, Aberdeen, 

 Caithness, in Scotland ; and the Channel Isles. It 

 may be found feeding upon Chxmdrus crispus and 

 the similar Gigartina raamillosa, a little above and 

 below low-water mark. 



The Fresh- water Nerite (Nerifina fluviatilis) is 

 the sole representative of the family NeritUlce in 

 this countr3\ It takes us away from the sea for a 

 brief space, for this is a mollusk, no doubt 

 descended from the marine Nerites of 

 Fresh-water waruier climcs, that has ascended the 

 "^^"^^ rivers and become modified by the 

 changed habitat. The shell is obliquel}^ oval, 

 of a solid character, and with a glossy surface. 

 The ground colour is 3'ellowish, and is chequered 



