Sea-slugs 277 



presents a singular resemblance, in miniature, to a 

 hare, and this likeness led our forefathers to bestow 

 the present popular name upon it. But because the 

 Sea Hare when interfered with pours out a purple 

 fluid from the edge of its mantle, they said some 

 unkind things of it — that this fluid caused an 

 indelible stain, and they called it Aplysia (from a 

 and 'plus, un washable). They also averred that this 

 fluid was a poison, and that contact with the mollusk 

 would cause all the hair to fall from the head of the 

 person touching or being touched by it. Specimens 

 of various sizes are found to differ greatly in colour, 

 and these have been thought to be different species ; 

 but there can be little doubt that in their progress 

 from infancy to maturity they change their depths 

 along the shore and occupy consecutive zones of 

 vegetation to which they closely assimilate in colour. 

 Thus young Sea Hares of a bright crimson colour 

 spotted with white may be found in an extended 

 motionless attitude on the crimson fronds of Delesseria, 

 and then so closely resemble shoots of the weed that 

 it is difficult to distinguish them. When they become 

 larger their colour tones down to a brownish red, 

 then to deep red-brown, much the colour of Dulse 

 {Iridcea). Purple-brown, olive - browm, and olive- 

 green are other colour-phases reached by it, in the 

 course of which it matches with the great tangles 

 and the smaller wracks. When fully grown and 

 fully extended the Sea Hare is 6 inches in length. 

 Sometimes the light spots are entirely absent. 



The Sea Hare is a well-protected creature. Not 

 only does its colour harmonise with the weeds upon 

 which it glides, but the purple fluid ejected when 



