CHITONELLUS. 225 



form, with the inner projecting plates very much developed, 

 and firmly imbedded within the substance of the mantle ; 

 sustained by this alone, they are perfectly isolated from 

 one another, far removed posteriorly, but approximating 

 towards the head, where they are often much crowded by 

 the friction arising from the creature^s disposition to thrust 

 himself into holes and crevices. 



ChitoneUi are peculiar in their habits. They dwell 

 among themselves, and are rarely found in company with 

 their relatives the Chitons. Tlie latter abound on the 

 south-west coast of America, where at least fifty or sixty 

 species have been discovered; but not a single Chiton- 

 ellus is found among them. In the Philippine Islands, on 

 the contrary, which Chitons seem instinctively to avoid, Mr. 

 Cuming collected the C.fasciatus, or banded Chitonellus, 

 in considerable numbers and of extraordinary size. Her- 

 mit-hke, they dwelt in holes or cavities, either of natural 

 formation or else bored by other mollusks, into which 

 they coukl readily enter, by compressing themselves, even 

 when the dwelling was apparently too small. Holes or 

 circuitous crevices in coral rocks were their favourite 

 resorts in the island of Zebu, and into these they would 

 creep, leaving their hinder portions partially projecting 



Q 



