NATICKS. 189 
The animal, in such specimens as I have seen, 
is almost wholly of a pure milk-white hue. It is, 
as already stated, very large, the long oval foot 
extending far beyond the outline of the shell on 
every side, and partly inclosing it. Messrs. Forbes 
and Hanley state that this is a local species, found, 
however, on most parts of our coast where sand is 
plentiful. I have taken it by dredging in Wey- 
mouth Bay, where it seems a common species, 
together with N. Alderz. Both of these animals 
have a curious habit, which I have not seen 
noticed. ‘They are said to live burded in sand, but 
I believe this is only to a partial extent. When 
put into an aquarium with a sandy bottom, they 
soon begin to crawl just beneath the surface of the 
sand, the foot alone being immersed in it; and this 
organ as it slowly moves along, deposits and leaves 
behind a broad belt of clear mucus, of slight 
density. The progress of the creature through the 
fine soft sand,-is very curious to witness. 
In places where this Natica is common, the 
dredge not unfrequently brings up its spawn-masses. 
Professor Harvey in his delightful ‘“ Sea-Side 
Book,” thus speaks of them.— “ These ege-clusters 
are really very curious and elegantly formed objects, 
which must often have attracted the notice of a 
rambler, who felt puzzled to know what they 
were. They are firmly gelatinous, or of the 
consistence of gristle, transparent, or nearly so, 
slightly coated with fine sand, and in shape 
resemble the hoof of an animal. When dry, they 
look not unlike pieces of thin Scotch oaten bread. 
The surface is marked with little hexagonal spaces, 
which define the eggs. But what is most to be 
admired in the structure, is the form of the curves 
