174 THE PEARLY NAUTILUS. 



figures, the engravings are copies. The arrow in the 

 former shows the course of the animal. 



In 1832, Professor Owen gave to the scientific world 

 his memoir on the pearly nautilus, founded on a minute 

 anatomical investigation of the individual in question. 

 This memoir, replete with new and valuable information, 

 is our authority with respect to every detail as far as 

 concerns this curious being and its shell. George 

 Bennett, Esq. f.l.s., by whom this animal was secured, 

 thus describes the circumstance of its capture, 



" Island of Erromanga, New Hebrides, August 24, 

 1829. Monday. — Fine weather during the day. Ther- 

 mometer at noon, 79 degrees. In the evening a pearly 

 nautilus was seen in Marekini Bay, on the south-west 

 side of the island, floating on the surface of the water, 

 not far distant from the ship, and resembling, as the 

 sailors expressed it, a dead tortoise-shell cat in the water. 

 It was captured, but not before the upper part of the 

 shell had been broken by the boat-hook, in the eager- 

 ness to take it, as the animal was sinking when caught. 

 On being brought on board my attention was directed 

 to possessing the inhabitant, which I succeeded in pro- 

 curing. I immediately detached the animal from the 

 fractured portions of the shell, (to which it is attached 

 by two oval muscular attachments on each side,) and 



